Ronna McDaniel, leader since 2017 of the Republican National Committee, was replaced by two staunch Donald Trump allies, strengthening the former president’s control on the party. The Committee elected as his chair Michael Whatley, the chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and the R.N.C.’s general counsel, and as his co-chair Lara Trump, Mr. Trump’s daughter-in-law (TV producer, former advisor to Trump’s campaign, and wife to his son Eric).
McDaniel announced privately to Donald Trump that she meant to step down, after many months of accusations about her management of the fundraising campaign activities, but also about her insufficient support of the former president; a support that Whatley and Lara Trump will certainly offer. McDaniel was specifically accused of being too neutral in the Republican primaries’ campaign, and of resisting the requests to call off debates where Trump did not intend to participate.
It’s official: Laura Trump is the co-chair of the RNC.
The RNC is expected now to start paying Trump’s legal bills.
This is not normal. pic.twitter.com/ICTH7JJrs6
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) March 8, 2024
With his victory in Super Tuesday’s voting and his last rival Nikki Haley, dropping out of the race, Trump is now the de facto Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election (although he has not gathered yet all the necessary delegates) and will concentrate all his efforts against his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden.
