Former President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed three people to run the Republican National Committee (RNC) following reports of the current chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, leaving the post after the GOP South Carolina presidential primary, set for February 24.
Trump said he’d like to see McDaniel’s position replaced by Michael Whatley, the North Carolina GOP chairman. As for co-chair, the former president said his daughter-in-law, Laura Trump, would be the best fit. Lastly, Trump picked former Marine and political consultant Chris LaCivita to assume the role of COO. LaCivita currently serves as Trump’s campaign co-manager.
“The RNC MUST be a good partner in the Presidential election. It must do the work we expect from the national Party and do it flawlessly,” Trump said in a statement sent to The Daily Wire. “That means helping to ensure fair and transparent elections across the country, getting out the vote everywhere – even in parts of the country where it won’t be easy – and working with my campaign, as the Republican presumptive nominee for President, to win this election and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Pitching Whatley, Trump said the GOP leader has been with him “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.”
“My very talented daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, has agreed to run as the RNC Co-Chair,” the statement continued. “Lara is an extremely talented communicator and is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for. She has told me she wants to accept this challenge and would be GREAT!”
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Trump’s statement added that LaCivita should “manage the RNC’s day-to-day operations so it will become a fighting machine for 2024 and use all the tools available to win for the American people.”
Following calls for McDaniel to be removed as RNC head, Trump met with McDaniel at Mar-a-Lago, The Daily Wire reported. He then posted online, “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.”
Trump also told Newsmax that he believes McDaniel “understands” that she has to step down from the RNC chair position. “I think she knows that,” Trump said. “I think she understands that.”
Related: Ronna McDaniel To Step Down At RNC After Trump Calls For Removal: Report