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The longtime Republican leader has found himself exposed to criticism as the party faces funding challenges and those close to President Trump move to tighten control of the party.
McDaniel, who was elected speaker in 2017 after successfully campaigning for President Trump in Michigan in 2016, won a record fourth term in 2023 and will remain in office until 2025. It is expected to remain at . But Mr. McDaniel faces fierce criticism from the National Party’s grassroots. party.
“Is it time for Ronna McDaniel to step down?” a Newsmax reporter asked President Trump in a television interview Monday.
President Trump responded, “I think she knows that, and I think she understands that.”
But hours after that interview was recorded, and after a meeting that lasted more than two hours with McDaniel at the Mar-a-Lago club in South Florida, President Trump posted the following on his Truth social media site: I sent a message like this. The RNC, and I will make a decision on my proposal for growth of the RNC the day after the South Carolina primary. ”
The remarks came a day after President Trump said in an interview on Fox Business that changes were coming at the RNC. In the past, he has passionately defended McDaniel amid widespread criticism from some in the McDaniel movement.
Two people familiar with Monday’s meeting described it as amicable and said Trump did not issue an ultimatum. One of the people said Mr. McDaniel does not plan to remain until Election Day, but has not yet decided to leave, and Mr. Trump is not committing to any decision.
Mr. Trump has begun pushing for replacements to include Joe Gruter of Florida and Michael Whatley of North Carolina, according to people familiar with his thinking.
McDaniel was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2023, although some critics called for her removal following the party’s disappointing performance in the 2022 midterm elections.
Ms. McDaniel enjoys good ratings among the party’s 168 members, but she has been widely criticized by right-wing agitators who have attacked her for not raising enough money and say she is not loyal to Mr. Trump. It has attracted criticism.
The Trump campaign is increasingly dissatisfied with McDaniel’s leadership. They are concerned about what they see as lackluster RNC fundraising and expectations that the RNC committee will play a stronger role in the general election showdown with President Biden.
Trump was also angry with McDaniel for her role in organizing the presidential debate, calling for him to cancel the debate and declare himself the candidate last fall. Mr. Trump also said Mr. McDaniel did not do enough to ensure “election integrity,” according to people familiar with his remarks, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions. He has repeatedly told his advisers that he has not done so. The party struggled to raise money in 2023, entering the presidential year with about half as much money as Democrats, according to campaign reports.
Her defenders argue that Ms. McDaniel held the party together during seven difficult years and that Mr. Trump, not Ms. McDaniel, was responsible for many of the party’s woes.
“If Trump wants to understand why we lost in 2018, 2020, and 2022, all he has to do is look in the mirror. Rona is not a magician.” said Henry Barber of the RNC.
In his pre-political life, Trump was a consummate host, often trying to persuade those in front of him, which can cause confusion about his true intentions.
For example, the whiplash in his views on McDaniel appears to stem in part from his desire to provide a strong anti-McDaniel message to his conservative Newsmax base; After a direct meeting with several of McDaniel’s members, he returned to McDaniel’s complaint. After hours.
McDaniel ran for a fourth term against the advice of some prominent Republicans and advisers.
McDaniel, the niece of Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who stopped using “Romney” as part of his name after the 2016 election, comes from a prominent family in Republican politics. , is seen as a bridge between Trump and the Republican Party. More established, corporate class. She is favored by some of the party’s biggest donors, including hotelier Steve Wynn.
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