Donald Trump‘s sentiment towards Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and the RNC’s overall leadership has reportedly soured over time.
What Happened: Following a series of Republican defeats in prominent races in Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio last week, Trump has received feedback from allies within his party, according to a person in close proximity to the former president, reported CNBC.
These individuals, citing McDaniel’s leadership at the RNC, attribute the party’s challenges to her. People familiar with the situation indicate that they are urging Trump to exert pressure on McDaniel to step down.
Some of the individuals urging the former president to distance himself from McDaniel were the same people who advised against publicly endorsing Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier this year — when McCarthy was facing challenges in retaining his speakership, which ultimately proved unsuccessful.
"We didn't want McCarthy, and then months later we lobbied the president to not save McCarthy," a person familiar with the situation told the publication.
"I do think if there's enough pressure from us and Trump, McDaniel might just decide, ‘this is humiliating,' and step down."
Why It Matters: In January, McDaniel secured her fourth two-year term as RNC chair through reelection. However, Trump allies are confident that if the former president were to publicly demand McDaniel’s resignation, the ensuing pressure from the party’s conservative base would likely force her to step down from the position.
This came after Republicans in Virginia faced setbacks as they failed to secure majorities in both the House of Delegates and the state Senate. Rich Anderson, the chairman of Virginia’s Republican Party, alleged that the RNC had declined to provide financial support for GOP campaigns in state legislative races. Anderson contended that such assistance could have potentially shifted control of the chambers in favor of the GOP.
Meanwhile, the RNC, in a statement, said that it is focused on defeating Joe Biden. "Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and the entire Republican National Committee is laser focused on beating Biden next fall. The RNC has already staffed up in 15 states, filed over 70 election integrity lawsuits, launched Bank Your Vote, established a permanent Election Integrity department, and continues to hold Joe Biden's feet to the fire," an RNC spokesperson told the publication.
Photo via Shutterstock.
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