Trump on GOP support: I might have to 'do it alone'

By Harper Neidig - 06-15-16 17:08 PM EDT

Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump blasted his party's leaders on Wednesday, saying they are holding him back and that he might have to "do it alone."

"You know the Republicans - honestly folks, our leaders have to get tougher," he said at a rally in Atlanta. "This is too tough to do it alone, but you know what I think I'm going to be forced to."

"Our leaders have to get a lot tougher," he continued. "And be quiet. Just please be quiet. Don't talk. Please be quiet. Just be quiet to the leaders because they have to get tougher, they have to get sharper, they have to get smarter. We have to have our Republicans either stick together or let me just do it by myself."

Trump's comments come amid signs that GOP leaders are increasingly worried about being tied to his campaign.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday declined to answer questions about Trump, while his lieutenant, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), said he would seek to avoid answering questions about the GOP's presumptive nominee until after Election Day.

In the House, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was hit with questions about Trump at his press availability on Tuesday and at a later event. He repeated his opposition to Trump's call for a ban on Muslim immigration.

A Bloomberg poll shows Trump trailing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by 12 points, underlining Republican concerns.

The likely GOP nominee has been condemned by many in his party for his response to the Orlando shooting. Trump vowed this week to stand by his proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country and even suggested that President Obama was sympathetic to terrorists.