Former President Donald Trump has given his backing to North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley as the successor to Ronna McDaniel as the chair of the Republican National Committee.
In addition to endorsing Whatley, Trump stated in a formal announcement that he would also support Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, for the position of co-chairwoman at the RNC.
Trump’s endorsement is seen as a move to assert his influence over the committee and drive a change in leadership.
As part of this strategy, Chris LaCivita, Trump’s co-campaign manager, has been chosen to serve as the RNC’s chief operating officer, though he will maintain his current responsibilities.
Whatley Gains Trump’s Favor for Chairmanship
In recent days, Whatley had emerged as a frontrunner for the chairmanship, garnering favor from Trump.
Although South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick and Florida Republican National Committeeman Joe Gruters were also considered, Trump and his team indicated their preference for Whatley.
A review by CNN KFile of Whatley’s post-2020 presidential election statements revealed his propagation of falsehoods and advocacy for using the courts to challenge the election results.
Whatley, who has since recognized Joe Biden as the legitimate president, currently holds the position of general counsel at the RNC, overseeing legal matters and the organization’s efforts related to “election integrity.”
Trump’s Discontent with McDaniel’s Leadership
Trump and his senior advisors recently expressed discontent with McDaniel’s leadership, leading to pressure for her resignation as chairwoman.
This pressure became evident during a two-hour meeting between the former president and McDaniel at Mar-a-Lago shortly after the RNC’s annual winter gathering.
As previously reported by CNN, McDaniel had offered to step down from her position following the South Carolina primary later this month, enabling the former president to appoint his preferred party chair, as indicated by two party advisers.
It is not uncommon for a party nominee to swiftly initiate leadership changes and appoint key allies within their national committee upon either becoming the de facto or official nominee.
Although Trump has yet to secure his party’s nomination, he maintains a commanding lead in the GOP primary, with polls showing him significantly ahead of former Gov. Nikki Haley in the upcoming South Carolina Republican primary.
Trump’s endorsement holds considerable sway among the 168 members of the Republican National Committee, who are responsible for electing a new chair and co-chair.
