Perry Johnson suspends GOP presidential bid, blames RNC for keeping him off debate stage

Michigan businessman Perry Johnson on Friday suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination after failing to qualify for either primary debate or achieve meaningful polling success.

"I ran for President with the single focus of ensuring that the country my children inherit is just as extraordinary as the America in which I grew up. I was worried that wouldn't happen," he said in a statement. "The government's out-of-control spending, which has caused rampant inflation and forced skyrocketing interest rates, is painful for middle America and hurting American families."

"The American people deserve so much better than what career politicians in D.C. are giving them," he continued, before blaming the Republican National Committee for working to keep him off the Republican debate stage.

"I must admit, the corruption among leaders at the RNC during this process was appalling," he said. Johnson claimed that he had met the RNC's requirements to participate in the primary debate, but that the committee had kept him off the stage nonetheless.

"Not only was the debate process set up to keep outsiders off the stage and without a voice, but when we did meet their arbitrary metrics, corrupt leaders used their authoritarian power to kick me off the stage at 11 p.m. the Monday before the debate, despite our team working with Fox News all weekend on logistics," Johnson lamented.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, the people should decide the next president of the United States, not the head of the RNC and her cronies," he said. "With no opportunity to share my vision on the debate stage, I have decided at the time, suspending my campaign is the right thing to do."

Johnson did not fully end his campaign and plans to retain a small political staff in the event the race develops in a manner favorable to him resuming his bid. He will still appear on early primary ballots.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.