The Republican National Committee (RNC) is reportedly considering blocking NBC News from this year’s presidential nominating convention after the agency hired, then swiftly fired, former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel. The hiring gained considerable criticism by many on the right and left, including those who considered McDaniel’s role in a string of disappointing Republican electoral finishes.
The RNC is reportedly considering barring NBC News from the Republican National Convention later this year.
“We are taking a hard look at what this means for NBC’s participation at the convention,” said an RNC spokesperson.
The RNC previously blocked action by NBC News. In 2016, the network was barred from moderating a debate during the Republican primary.
Despite this, there has not been a major media company barred from a major party convention in recent history.
McDaniel was hired as a political analyst at NBC News and MSNBC following her resignation from the RNC earlier this year. She made one appearance this weekend.
Hilarious. Today @jrpsaki said there's a difference between NBC hiring her right from the Biden WH and hiring Ronna McDaniel right from the RNC: namely, that Pskai doesn't lie like McDaniel does.
The same Jen Psaki spread this CIA lie two weeks before the 2020 election: https://t.co/YwuWN537sx pic.twitter.com/INdwezr0Da
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 26, 2024
However, a number of NBC News and MSNBC personalities criticized the hiring, particularly highlighting her defenses of the Trump White House.
The criticism included former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki and hosts Rachel Maddow and Chuck Todd. Despite the criticism, McDaniel also said that former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and that President Joe Biden won that year “fair and square.”
McDaniel is reportedly considering legal action over the dismissal.
The RNC chair received considerable criticism after some Republicans lost races in 2018, 2020 and 2022. The chair was criticized by former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who called for her to go.
After former Trump signaled earlier this year that it may be time for a change, McDaniel announced she would step aside. Trump originally recommended her for the job.
The decision was followed by the election and installation of a new team at the RNC, including new co-chair Lara Trump. The former president’s daughter-in-law said that her focus would be to get Trump elected in November.
