The Republican National Committee (RNC) recently experienced a significant shakeup in leadership, with Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump, assuming a key role within the organization. This move comes amidst a debate among RNC members regarding the organization’s stance on contributing to Trump’s legal expenses.
During a meeting held in Houston, RNC members voted to appoint Michael Whatley and Lara Trump as chair and co-chair, respectively. This decision follows former President Trump’s victory in the Super Tuesday primaries, which led to Nikki Haley’s withdrawal from the Republican race. With Trump likely securing the nomination, a showdown with President Joe Biden in the upcoming election seems inevitable.
Lara Trump expressed her commitment to the goal of winning the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, promising that every dollar raised would go towards this purpose. The reorganization also resulted in Ronna McDaniel being replaced as the head of the RNC. McDaniel, a loyal Trump supporter, faced pressure to resign due to lackluster fundraising and the Republican party’s subpar performance in the 2022 congressional midterms.
Several RNC members have urged the committee to assist in covering Trump’s legal fees, which have reached hundreds of millions of dollars, including penalties. However, during speeches, neither Whatley nor Lara Trump directly addressed this issue, causing some donors to hesitate in contributing funds.
The resolution to use funds for Trump’s legal expenses failed to gain enough support to be put to a vote. Donald Trump’s effort to appoint Lara Trump, the wife of his younger son Eric, as the second-in-command reflects his influence over the organization dedicated to electing Republicans at all levels. This level of familial influence in a position of significant authority within the RNC has not been seen since President Ronald Reagan’s daughter Maureen Reagan served as RNC co-chair in the 1980s.
Overall, the shift in leadership dynamics within the RNC reflects the ongoing influence of the Trump family in Republican politics and sets the stage for a potentially contentious election cycle ahead.
