George P Bush, Jeb's son, urges Republicans to back Donald Trump

Jeb Bush was an early favorite in the Republican presidential race, but saw his polling numbers plummet amid a barrage of attacks from Trump

Jeb Bush's son, Texas Land Commissioner George P Bush, is urging Republicans to support the man who beat his dad in a fiercely fought GOP primary.

Addressing a closed-door gathering of Texas Republican Party leaders Saturday, Bush called for helping Donald Trump win in November.

"From Team Bush, it's a bitter pill to swallow. But you know what? You get back up and you help the man that won, and you make sure that we stop Hillary Clinton," Bush said in a video first posted online by the Texas Tribune.

Bush declined further comment Monday. He has not publicly endorsed Trump and skipped last month's Republican National Convention. His father, uncle and grandfather former presidents George W Bush and George HW Bush have also refused to back Trump.

The younger Bush is in a tight spot. He is a rising star among Republicans in Texas and beyond. Ignoring the GOP nominee could hurt his profile. Also, as chairman of the state party's victory committee, he's responsible for generating support for all Republicans.

But embracing Trump too much could be seen as betraying the rest of his family. In an interview with The Associated Press in May, Bush said he hadn't endorsed Trump because "I've got two boys that are 1 and 3 ... I want them to be able to look at the Oval Office and see the presidential seal and say, 'That is somebody who I look up to.' And right now, Donald Trump's not satisfied that litmus test."

Jeb Bush, a former Florida governor, was an early favorite in the Republican presidential race, but saw his polling numbers plummet amid a barrage of attacks from Trump.

George P Bush became the first member of his famous political family to win his first election in 2014, easily taking Texas' land commissionership.