Former President Donald Trump hinted that Ronna McDaniel should vacate her position as Republican National Committee chairwoman, apparently reversing her initial support after the organization reported a decade-low fundraising total entering a presidential election year.
The GOP front-runner, 77, was asked Monday on Newsmax whether McDaniel, 50, should step down after three consecutive rounds of elections showing poor Republican performance.
“I think he knows that, I think he understands that,” Trump responded. “For me, as far as I’m concerned … almost 100% of the Republicans I support won. At mid-term, out of 253 endorsements, I won 222 races.”
McDaniel has faced calls to resign from some of Trump’s staunchest supporters, including biotech entrepreneur and former 2024 GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Trump privately endorsed McDaniel’s bid for a four-year term two years ago, despite widespread grumbling about his management after Republicans only managed to recapture the House of Representatives and lose a Senate seat in the 2022 midterms.
Ronna McDaniel speaks before the Republican presidential primary debate hosted by NBC News. AP
In an interview with Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Feature” this past weekend, Trump stated that “there will probably be some changes made” soon at the RNC.
“I think he did his best when he ran Michigan for me [in 2016]. I think he did well early on at the RNC,” the 45th president told host Maria Bartiromo.
According to Federal Election Commission filings, the RNC had just $8 million in cash on hand as of Dec. 31 — the lowest since it had more than $5 million in cash on hand at the end of 2014.
The Trump campaign, on the other hand, ended 2023 with $42 million in cash on hand.
In this Dec. 2, 2017 photo, Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel speaks at a fundraiser at Cipriani’s in New York, with President Donald Trump. AP
When asked about the GOP’s cash flow problem, Trump replied, “I have a lot of money” while distancing himself from McDaniel.
“The money they get, people don’t see the RNC,” he said. “They want — they want change. I — you have to understand, I have nothing to do with the RNC. I’m not — I’m separate.”
Trump then hopped on Truth Social Monday night after reportedly meeting with McDaniel at his Mar-a-Lago estate, saying he was “his friend” before again suggesting he might be asking for a change in RNC leadership.
“I will make a decision the day after that [Feb. 24] South Carolina Primary on my proposal for RNC Growth,” Trump wrote.
Trump’s comments suggest he has other leadership possibilities in mind for the RNC. AP
The RNC did not respond to inquiries from The Post about Trump’s comments and the 2023 fundraiser.
Meanwhile, RNC chief of staff Mike Reed announced to colleagues on Tuesday that he is leaving his post, which he has held since February 2022.
In an email obtained by The Post, Reed announced he was leaving to focus on his “growing family” who “need and deserve my attention.”
“I know the timing of this news has come because many rumors in the press are swirling and we are ready to join hands with the presumed nominee. I assure you, the RNC is in a very strong position,” wrote Reed, who has been with the organization since early 2017.
“We always knew there would be some changes once we had a candidate in mind, and we welcome that,” he added. “Chairman McDaniel has had great conversations with President Trump over the past few days and weeks. He will continue to lead this organization to merge smoothly should he become the nominee.”
“In the chaotic world of DC and the RNC, Mike Reed has been a steady, steady hand as our Chief of Staff,” McDaniel said in a statement. “I will miss Mike guiding me and our staff but I am very happy and excited for his next adventure and that he will be able to spend more time with his wife Alice and their beautiful children.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
