Donald Trump is pushing daughter-in-law Lara Trump and a top campaign aide to take over two key spots with the financially struggling Republican National Committee ahead of the November election.
Trump, 77, endorsed North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley to replace Ronna McDaniel as party chair, Lara to serve as co-chair and senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita to be the party’s chief operating officer.
“The RNC MUST be a good partner in the Presidential election,” Trump said Monday in a statement from the organization, which has been plagued by lackluster fundraising numbers.
“It must do the job that we expect from a national Party and do it perfectly,” said the former president and now leading 2024 GOP presidential contender.
“This group of three is extremely talented, battle-tested, and smart. They have my full and total support to lead the Republican National Committee. Every penny will be put to good use.”
All three of Trump’s picks must be confirmed by the 168 members of the RNC.
Ronna McDaniel has chaired the Republican National Committee since 2017. AP
Given Trump’s influence, they are expected to get the green light.
Earlier this month at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump met privately with McDaniel, the former Michigan GOP chairman he backed to lead the RNC in 2017 — a role he has held ever since.
He has previously publicly stated it is time for a change in leadership and has been rumored to be pushing for Whatley to take over the RNC after the February 24 South Carolina primary.
Trump apparently decided to extend the time frame to make the plan public after the plan was leaked to the press.
All of this comes amid a fundraising crunch for the RNC. Last year, the organization earned $87.2 million and ended 2023 with about $8 million in cash on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Donald Trump praised North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley for his stance on election integrity issues. Reuters
That marked some of the worst fundraising numbers in about a decade. In fact, if adjusted for inflation, that would be the RNC’s worst fundraiser since 1993.
The Democratic National Committee, on the other hand, earned $119 million and ended the year with about $21 million in cash, according to the FEC.
“You have to understand, I have nothing to do with the RNC, I’m separate,” Trump told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” earlier this month.
“I thought he did great when he ran Michigan for me, I thought he did OK initially at the RNC,” he said of McDaniel. “I would say now there will probably be some changes made.”
In his endorsement of Whatley for the top RNC post, Trump described the North Carolina politician as a “friend” and emphasized his commitment to “election integrity.”
Lara Trump is married to the 45th president’s son Eric and has thought about pursuing a prominent political role in the past. Getty Images
Lara Trump had previously considered running for the North Carolina Senate but ultimately chose against it. RNC co-chairman is a paid position.
“Lara is a very talented communicator and dedicated to everything MAGA stands for,” the former president said in a statement. “He has told me he wants to take on this challenge and will be GREAT!”
LaCivita has an extensive portfolio in Republican politics. He is expected to continue to adapt his role in Trump’s presidential campaign if he wins the RNC role.
“Chris will manage the day-to-day operations of the RNC so that it will be a fighting machine for 2024 and use all the tools at its disposal to win for the American people,” Trump said.
Chris LaCivita is expected to retain his position in the Trump campaign despite his tenure at the RNC. AFP via Getty Images Donald Trump’s proposed sweeping changes to the RNC could happen next month. Reuters
Trump’s proposal to overhaul the RNC leadership team comes about five months before the July 15-18 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
His last Republican presidential rival, former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, quickly launched an alternative plan for the leadership of the RNC.
“Nikki Haley’s plan for the RNC? Blow it all up,” Haley campaign manager Betsy Ankney said in a statement late Monday.
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“Everyone at the RNC will be fired, there will be a full and complete audit of gross misappropriation of funds and there will be a formal application process to become the RNC chair based on MERIT, not on back scratching.”
Ankney also knocked Trump for “rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic” with his plan and pointed out that under “Trump and the current RNC leadership, Republicans lost elections in 2018, 2020, and 2022.”
Trump has won every 2024 GOP presidential contest by wide margins so far and has 63 delegates to Haley’s 17. He is an excellent choice to win the decision to be the party’s standard bearer.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
