 FILE - In this Aug. 27, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets supporters after speaking at a rally at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, S.C. NBC announced Tuesday,... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this Aug. 27, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets supporters after speaking at a rally at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, S.C. NBC announced Tuesday,... (Associated Press) 
 
 NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump says he has signed a Republican loyalty pledge to back the GOP's 2016 nominee for president and skip a potential third-party bid. Story highlights Republican front-runner Donald Trump is expected to rule out a third-party bid Thursday 
 
 Trump will have a 2 p.m. news conference at Trump Towers following the meeting with RNC head Reince Priebus 
 
 Washington (CNN) Republican front-runner Donald Trump is expected to rule out a third-party bid for president Thursday, following a meeting with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus in the afternoon. In recent days, the RNC has circulated a pledge to GOP presidential candidates asking them for their party loyalty and affirm they will not run for president as an independent -- a move many seem aimed at Trump.
– Donald Trump has come to heel, agreeing to support the eventual Republican presidential nominee and not run as a third-party candidate, the AP reports. Despite being the only candidate to publicly mull a third-party run during the August GOP primary debate, Trump signed a party loyalty pledge today. The pledge was circulated by the Republican National Committee to all candidates. Prior to Trump agreeing to the loyalty pledge, sources tell CNN, most supporters calling into his campaign about the pledge wanted Trump not to sign. While the pledge is not a legally binding document, Trump says he sees "no circumstance under which I would tear up that pledge," FOX News and NBC report. According to the AP, a third-party run would have made the path to the presidency much easier for the eventual Democratic candidate.