Donald Trump called for a change in leadership at the Republican National Committee on Monday night to install a new group of loyalists – including his daughter-in-law Lara.
The former president hopes to reshape the Republican political machine before attempting to secure the party's next presidential nomination.
Current RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel says she has no plans to leave the committee, at least after the Feb. 24 South Carolina primary.
Still, Trump is demanding that McDaniel be replaced by Michael Whatley, the North Carolina GOP chairman.
The new co-chair, Trump said, should be his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, whom he described in a statement as a “dedicated MAGA.”
Donald Trump is calling for North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley to be the new RNC co-chair
The new co-chair, Trump said, should be his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, whom he described in a statement as a “dedicated MAGA.”
In a statement released Monday, he wrote: “The RNC MUST be a good partner in the presidential election. It must do the job we expect of the national party, and do it flawlessly.”
“That means helping to ensure fair and transparent elections across the country, voting everywhere — even in parts of the country where it won’t be easy — and working with my campaign as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee to win this election.” and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!'
Trump added that Whatley is “committed to election integrity, which we absolutely must meet to keep fraud out of our election so it can't be stolen.”
He said Lara, his son Eric's wife, is “an extremely talented communicator and committed to everything MAGA stands for.”
“This group of three is highly talented, battle-hardened and smart.” “You have my full and unconditional approval to lead the Republican National Committee,” Trump said. “Every penny will be put to good use.” New day.'
Trump's attempt to oust McDaniel – days after the two met at his Mar-a-Lago residence and agreed to postpone a decision on their future – reflects his urgency to force Republicans to face each other in a likely rematch against President Joe Biden to unite behind him.
Although Trump hasn't come close to amassing enough delegates to secure the nomination, he's hoping for a potential knockout against Nikki Haley, his last major primary rival, in her home state of South Carolina next week.
At the heart of Trump's demands are his false theories about election fraud.
Trump said Lara, his son Eric's wife, is “an extremely talented communicator and committed to everything MAGA stands for.”
Donald Trump called for a change in leadership at the Republican National Committee on Monday evening to install a new group of loyalists – including his daughter-in-law Lara to replace Ronna McDaniel (pictured right).
Trump hopes Lara will be part of a revamp of the GOP's political machine even before the former president formally secures the party's next presidential nomination
Trump has long complained that the RNC is not sufficiently focused on preventing voter fraud. He continues to falsely claim that he cost him the 2020 election, even though his own election officials, the Justice Department and numerous courts have found no evidence to support his claims.
DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd called the appointment a harbinger of a second Trump term to in a statement.
“If there was ever any doubt that Donald Trump would bend America’s institutions to his will in a second term, look no further than how he treats his own party,” he said.
“By supporting election-denying conspiracy theorist Michael Whatley as chairman of the RNC, Trump is making clear that the GOP is home to insurrectionists and extreme MAGA fanatics.”
Trump appeared to suggest on his Truth Social account on Tuesday that he would decide the future of the RNC after the South Carolina primary on February 24.
“Ronna is now head of the RNC and I will make a decision on my recommendations for RNC growth the day after the South Carolina primary,” he buried in a post in which he boasted about his victories in Iowa and New Hampshire A preview of his victories was a visit to Nevada amid the primaries and caucuses this week.
A number of MAGA-aligned Republicans have called on McDaniel to resign in recent months, including suggestions from Trump in interviews and social media posts.
Charlie Kirk, founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, told in Las Vegas last Monday that he wants Donald Trump Jr., Lara Trump or failed presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to take over the party.
Trump added in his statement that Whatley is “committed to the election integrity we must have to keep fraud out of our election so it cannot be stolen.”
Trump has long complained that the RNC is not sufficiently focused on preventing voter fraud, which he continues to falsely claim cost him the 2020 election. He believes Whatley could focus more on election integrity
Trump once had a close relationship with Chairwoman McDaniel, but it soured after 2020 and the 2022 midterm elections when MAGA-aligned Republicans began complaining about her inability to deliver victories
“I think Vivek would be great.” “Or Don Jr. or Lara Trump,” Kirk said. “I mean, if the Trump campaign and the RNC merge, which they're doing at the convention, why wouldn't the RNC chairman be Don Jr.?” He works hard, he raises a lot of money. “He’s super intuitive.”
“Do you think he would want to do that?” asked Kirk.
“No, that’s why he’d be great,” he insisted. “But Lara Trump would also be a good choice.” She's really smart, great on TV. “Vivek would do a good job.”
“So I’m thinking Vivek, Don Jr. or Lara Trump,” he repeated. “I think you need to leave the committee.” That is my personal opinion. You need to leave this whole country club. “You have to think differently, you have to mix things up.”
Kirk said if McDaniel “goes away, then great.”
“We tried to get another chair last January – we were unsuccessful,” Kirk said. “And we've been really unhappy over the last few months with the way the RNC has handled several things.”
Kirk wants the RNC's “Country Club” to be disbanded and new blood brought into the leadership. And he thinks that should come from the pro-Trump world, since the campaign and RNC will merge at the time of the convention in the summer.
At Kirk's Turning Point conference last week, Steve Bannon delivered remarks denouncing the chairwoman to a crowd that included some RNC committee members.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel told former President Donald Trump that she would resign at the end of the month after multiple calls for her to resign
Trump once had a close relationship with Chairwoman McDaniel, but it soured after 2020 and the 2022 midterm elections when MAGA-aligned Republicans began complaining about her inability to deliver victories
In a call and response, Bannon asked, “Should Ronna McDaniel resign immediately?” The crowd responded with a resounding, “Yes!”
“Are we going to support everything the RNC does until they're gone?” He followed up, to which the crowd responded “No!”
Ramaswamy said during the third RNC-led presidential primary debate in Miami, Florida, in early November that he wanted McDaniel to resign.
He called the GOP a “party of losers” and called on the RNC chairwoman to “come on stage tonight” and resign from her position.