“Ronna is currently the RNC Director and will make a decision on my recommendations for the growth of the RNC the day after the South Carolina primary,” he wrote.
Trump handpicked McDaniel to head the RNC shortly after the 2016 election, and the two have had a close relationship over the years. But in recent months, he has publicly attacked the committee for its decision to host primary debates featuring his Republican rivals, debates he refused to participate in. Despite spending tens of millions of dollars, the commission argued that the RNC should focus more on issues related to voter integrity.
Meanwhile, Republican leaders have expressed concerns about the party's finances ahead of the general election. The RNC ended 2023 with just $8 million in cash on hand, less than half the amount of the Democratic National Committee.
Trump, the presumptive front-runner for the Republican nomination, hinted at pushing for change in an interview aired on Fox News on Sunday.
“I think she did great when she ran Michigan State for me. I think she did well at the RNC initially. I think there will probably be some changes made at this point. ” he said.
Representatives for Mr. Trump and the RNC declined to comment.
McDaniel is the longest-serving RNC chairman in modern history, having started in 2017. But over the past year, she has come under fire from conservative activists, particularly those from the pro-Trump group Turning Point USA. It is consistent with the party system. Last year, she faced opposition from California RNC Commissioner Harmeet Dhillon, backed by Turning Point USA, in her bid for re-election. McDaniel ultimately won easily, with Dillon gaining the support of 55 RNC members.
There are several ways in which an RNC transformation could occur. If McDaniel resigns, and she has not yet publicly said whether she will resign, there will be an election to choose her replacement. It is possible that Mr. Trump will support her candidate in that race.
Another possibility is that even if McDaniel is still in place, the Trump campaign could install a loyalist on the committee with substantial operational control.
