On Monday evening, former President Donald Trump announced he is endorsing North Carolina GOP chair Michael Whatley, daughter-in-law Lara Trump, and campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita to lead the Republican National Committee (RNC).
“Michael has been with me from the beginning, has done a great job in his home state of North Carolina, and is committed to election integrity, which we must have to keep fraud out of our election, so it can't be stolen,” Trump said.
Whatley has served as the North Carolina GOP chair since 2019. Whatley also serves as the general counsel for the Republican National Committee.
The rival Democratic National Committee reacted to the news with an email statement titled “Donald Trump Endorses Extreme Election Denier To Lead the RNC.”
Along with endorsing Whatley for the top leadership position in the committee, Trump announced plans for his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to run as co-chair of the RNC.
“Lara is an extremely talented communicator and is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for,” the former president said. “She has told me she wants to accept this challenge and would be GREAT!”
Trump also revealed that he had asked his senior adviser Chris LaCivita “to assume the role of, in effect, Chief Operating Officer” of the RNC, and that LaCivita would “manage the RNC's day-to-day operations.”
“This group of three is highly talented, battle-tested, and smart. They have my complete and total endorsement to lead the Republican National Committee,” concluded Trump. “Every penny will be used properly. New Day.”
The former president also said the three individuals are “highly talented, battle-tested, and smart,” adding they have his “complete and total endorsement” to lead the RNC.
Last week, the Republican presidential frontrunner signaled he would decide after the South Carolina primaries if current chair Ronna McDaniel should remain in her role with the RNC. (RELATED: Trump Hints Only He Will Decide Ronna McDaniel's Fate After The Next Primary)
Trump wrote last Monday night:
Things are looking great in the Presidential Race of 2024 against Crooked Joe Biden. We have Leads, in many cases substantial, in virtually every Head-to-Head Poll. The Primary seems to be over, but I'll be going to South Carolina next week to finish off a very unpopular Candidate. On Thursday, I'm heading to Nevada for the Nevada Caucus, where there are 26 Delegates – Hopefully, we'll get most of them. In my successful run in 2016, the State of Michigan really came through – First time in Decades that it was won by a Republican, and it was headed up by my friend Ronna McDaniel. Ronna is now Head of the RNC, and I'll be making a decision the day after the South Carolina Primary as to my recommendations for RNC Growth.
In January of last year, the RNC reelected McDaniel as their leader. The decision was heavily contested, with some influential donors and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) advocating for new blood following the party's disappointing showing in three consecutive elections.
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