- Trump loyalists fill key positions as former president moves toward nomination
- Lara Trump said she would be “focused on protecting our elections”
- North Carolina Republican and 2020 election denier Michael Watley assumed top job
Former President Donald Trump completed his inauguration of the Republican Party on Friday, when his daughter-in-law was elected co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC).
Lara Trump took on one of the lead roles alongside another Trump loyalist, after Ronna McDaniel stepped aside.
It comes as the former president approaches his third consecutive nomination in his party.
While it is common practice for nominees to merge their campaigns with the party apparatus, Trump will not receive the official nomination until July.
And although his team has promised not to use RNC funds to pay his personal legal bills, his key lieutenants will now face few challenges.
Donald Trump with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump. On Friday she was elected co-chair of the Republican National Committee, cementing her takeover of the party apparatus.
Lara Trump has even said she believed voters would be okay with the party footing the bill.
At the same time, Michael Whatley, a North Carolina Republican who has pushed false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, was elected national chairman.
“As co-chair, I will focus on protecting our elections, ensuring Republican Committee money is spent with maximum impact, and building key capabilities to ensure we win close elections on the margins,” said Lara, wife of Trump’s son Eric. .
“Everything I do on this committee will have one goal: re-elect Donald Trump, flip the Senate and expand the House this November.”
He is expected to focus on television appearances and fundraising.
Whatley said, “We are already on track to make Joe Biden a one-term president, and I look forward to working alongside each and every Republican across the country to achieve Republican victories at every ballot box.”
McDaniel was hand-picked by Trump to head the committee for seven years, but fell out of favor with the former president’s MAGA movement, which deemed her insufficiently loyal and to blame for election losses.
Ronna McDaniel resigned after losing the trust of Trump and his lieutenants
Eric Trump (left), the former president’s son, and his wife Lara Trump attend a Super Tuesday election night viewing party at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.
Lara Trump has become a familiar face at Trump campaign events. She is seen here with her father-in-law at the Kenosha Regional Airport, Wisconsin, in November 2020.
He asked for unity when leaving office.
“We have to stop attacking other Republicans,” he told committee members at their meeting in Houston, Texas, according to the Associated Press.
“If we spend our time attacking each other, we guarantee that the Democrats are going to win.”
Rounding out the acquisition is Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita, who will become the committee’s chief of staff, responsible for day-to-day operations.
