Former President Trump’s Allies Take Control of Republican National Committee
In a move that solidifies former President Donald Trump’s continued influence over the Republican Party, his picks for chair and co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) were unanimously confirmed on Friday. Michael Whatley, a Trump ally and the North Carolina GOP chair, will serve as chair, while Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, will serve as co-chair. The confirmation took place during a recently planned general session of the RNC in Houston.
During his acceptance speech, Whatley emphasized the close collaboration between the RNC and President Trump in the coming months. He stated, “Over the next eight months, the RNC will work hand in glove with President Trump.” Lara Trump echoed this sentiment, declaring that their goal is to win the upcoming election on November 5th, using her father-in-law’s term “bigly” to emphasize the magnitude of their ambition.
Whatley succeeds Ronna McDaniel, who had been the RNC’s chair since Donald Trump’s victory in 2016. McDaniel’s departure comes after Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with the committee’s fundraising efforts and its handling of the presidential primary debates. In her departing speech, McDaniel asserted that the state of the Republican Party is strong and highlighted the successful fundraising rebound in January and February.
Moving forward, fundraising will be a major focus for the RNC as it aims to compete with the Democratic National Committee and President Biden’s campaign. However, the RNC also plans to prioritize election integrity programs, which have been a key concern for Trump and his supporters. Whatley, a staunch supporter of Trump’s claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, emphasized the need to protect the sanctity of voters’ ballots and expand existing election integrity initiatives.
In addition to Whatley and Lara Trump, former campaign adviser Chris LaCivita was appointed as RNC chief of staff. LaCivita will continue to serve as one of the top advisers for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. While details of the changes within the RNC were not disclosed, LaCivita assured reporters that significant transformations would take place.
The timing of the RNC gathering coincided with Trump’s sweeping victories in 14 of the 15 GOP primaries and caucuses held on Super Tuesday. These victories brought him closer to officially securing the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election. The withdrawal of Nikki Haley, one of Trump’s last remaining rivals for the nomination, further solidified his position as the presumptive nominee.
Trump’s takeover of the RNC follows a traditional pattern in presidential election cycles, where the presumptive nominee takes control and merges operations as the party transitions from the primaries to the general election. Many party members view Trump’s leadership as vital to unifying the party and securing victories in various elections, including the White House, Senate, House, and local offices.
While there was some controversy surrounding concerns that the financially strained RNC would have to pay Trump’s legal bills, it has been confirmed that the committee will not be providing funds for this purpose. A non-binding resolution proposed by Henry Barbour, a longtime RNC committee member, to prevent RNC funds from being used for Trump’s legal expenses did not receive enough support to pass. However, Barbour acknowledged that the Trump campaign has assured them that they have no plans to use RNC funds for this purpose.
As the 2024 election cycle progresses, Trump’s influence over the Republican Party remains evident. With his allies now in control of the RNC, the party is gearing up for an intense campaign season focused on fundraising, election integrity, and securing victories across various levels of government. The Republican Party will rely on Trump’s leadership and support to achieve their goals in the upcoming elections.
