Former US President Donald Trump has expressed his support for his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to lead the Republican National Committee (RNC), and for Michael Whatley, the leader of North Carolina’s Republican Party.
His endorsement on Monday comes after reports that he has become unhappy with the RNC’s current leadership. The committee would elect new leaders if its current head, Ronna McDaniel, resigned.
The US media has said that Ms. McDaniel might quit her position after the South Carolina Republican primary, planned for February 24. The RNC, as an organization, concentrates on raising money for the party and getting Republicans to vote.
As the leading candidate for the Republican Party in this year’s election, Mr. Trump’s endorsement will probably have some impact on RNC members.
In a Monday evening statement, Mr. Trump said Mr. Whatley, who now serves as the committee’s general counsel, “has done a great job in his home state of North Carolina” and that he should be the RNC’s next chair. He also praised Mr. Whatley’s dedication to “election integrity.”.
Mr Whatley has previously supported the former president’s unfounded claims of election fraud in the 2020 election. For the role of RNC co-chair, Mr Trump said he backs his “very talented” daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who is married to his son Eric.
Ms Trump has collaborated closely with the RNC in the past and is regarded as an effective fundraiser by the committee. Party rules require that there be one male and one female at the top of the RNC.
The former president said he has also requested Chris LaCivita, the co-manager of his current presidential campaign, to take on the role of RNC’s chief operating officer.
The urge for a change in leadership follows disputes between Mr Trump and Ms McDaniel, the current RNC chair, over the Republican primary debates before this year’s election. The former president has declined to take part in any of them.