Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Ronna McDaniel announced her resignation following the South Carolina GOP presidential primary this weekend. The resignation came after weeks of speculation that McDaniel could step down after several successive disappointments in GOP races nationwide.
McDaniel announced Monday that she would leave her position on March 8. The decision came amid considerable criticism from those around former President Donald Trump, who argued that McDaniel’s record was subpar.
The outgoing chair said that it was the “honor and privilege of my life to serve the Republican National Committee for seven years as Chairwoman to elect Republicans and grow our Party.”
She said that she was stepping behind to “allow our nominee to select a Chair of their choosing.”
McDaniel added that traditionally the position of RNC chair changes when the party finds a new nominee and that it was always her “intention to honor that tradition.”
Trump had endorsed McDaniel in the role over his former attorney Harmeet Dhillon. He has announced his support for North Carolina Republican Party Chair Michael Whatley to take the national position.
The former president is also supporting his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to be the organization’s new co-chair.
Lara Trump:
"If we want to compete with the Democrats, we cannot wait until election day…We must embrace early voting!" pic.twitter.com/g2UOXS2PLr
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 22, 2024
Lara Trump said that if she was selected for the position, she would steer all funds given to the RNC to support her father-in-law’s election bid.
“Every single penny will go to the No. 1 and the only job of the RNC – that is electing Donald J. Trump as president of the United States and saving this country,” she said.
Lara Trump further added that the party would cut out wasteful spending and hoped to build a lean and powerful apparatus.
Lara is an extremely talented communicator and is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for,” Trump said of his daughter-in-law. “She has told me she wants to accept this challenge and would be GREAT!”
Trump said that he would work with the RNC 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.”