Happening Republican National Committee, Lara Trump potential co-chair

Trump calls for a shakeup at the RNC, pushing for the replacement of current Chair Ronna McDaniel with Michael Whatley.

Donald Trump has called for a major shakeup at the highest levels of the Republican National Committee, and party leaders are taking this very seriously. While Trump has not yet secured the GOP's presidential nomination, he has publicly announced his desire to replace current Chair Ronna McDaniel with Michael Whatley, the North Carolina GOP chairman, and have his daughter-in-law Lara Trump serve as the new co-chair. This move comes despite the fact that Trump and McDaniel previously agreed that no major changes would take place until after South Carolina's primary.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) is the governing body of the national Republican Party and is primarily focused on winning elections. The committee is made up of 168 voting members, including at least one man and woman from every state. The day-to-day operations and strategic decisions are controlled by a chairperson based in the Washington headquarters. The RNC chair is elected every two years by the 168 members, but when a Republican president occupies the White House, the 168 effectively act as a rubber stamp for the president's wishes.

Trump's desire to replace the RNC's leadership stems from rising pressure from leaders in the party's "Make America Great Again" movement to break from establishment leaders like McDaniel. Critics have blamed McDaniel's leadership decisions for the GOP's political struggles in the last three national elections. Trump's allies complain that the RNC has been irresponsible with its money and has not focused enough on voter fraud, which Trump falsely blames for his 2020 reelection loss. Trump's desire to install his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair is also part of his decision, as he needed to pick a woman to serve alongside the male chair.

It's important to note that Trump's social media post calling for new leadership at the RNC has no legal authority, and McDaniel and her team can continue to run the committee's operations until they are formally replaced by a vote of the RNC's 168 members. However, McDaniel is not expected to fight Trump's wishes, and it is widely anticipated that her days as the RNC chair will end in the coming weeks or months.

Trump's desire to make these changes is significant because, as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, he effectively controls the RNC. While the next scheduled meeting isn't until the summer, the committee typically holds a training session each spring that might offer an opportunity for such a vote. Trump's history of installing family members in key roles, such as his children running his businesses and his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner serving as senior White House advisers, is also a factor in his decision to have Lara Trump serve as co-chair.

In conclusion, Trump's call for a shakeup at the RNC is a significant move that could have far-reaching implications for the Republican Party. It reflects his desire to consolidate his influence over the party and further align it with his own priorities and vision. The upcoming months will be critical in determining the extent of Trump's influence over the RNC and the party as a whole.