Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel informed former President Donald Trump on Monday that she is stepping away from her role as chair for the Republican Party after the South Carolina GOP primary on February 24.
According to a report in the New York Times, McDaniel informed the president of her resignation during a meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence Monday. A day after the meeting, her chief of staff, Mike Reed likewise announced that he will resign from his position as chief of staff.
Never in the history of American politics has a 100% grassroots movement claimed a scalp so powerful & entrenched.
Ronna McDaniel was *never* going to leave.
So we decided to make it impossible for her to stay.
Don’t miss this moment. pic.twitter.com/64dxUcPXQZ
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 7, 2024
“I know the timing of this news comes as many rumors in the press swirl and we prepare to merge with the presumptive nominee. I assure you, the RNC is in an incredibly strong position,” Reed said. But RNC spokesperson Keith Schipper denied the report in a statement to Fox News, telling the outlet “Nothing has changed,” and, “This will be decided after South Carolina.”
But statements by Trump validate the report. The former president wrote on Truth Social after the Monday meeting that he considers McDaniel to be a “friend” but that he will be ushering in changes at the RNC after the South Carolina primary.
BREAKING: RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has told Donald Trump she will be resigning after the South Carolina primary.
Good 🔥
Here is what Vivek Ramaswamy had to say about McDaniel during the primary debates.
"We've become a party of losers… Since Ronna McDaniel took over as… pic.twitter.com/MvnuidPjdH
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 7, 2024
“Ronna is now Head of the RNC, and I’ll be making a decision the day after the South Carolina Primary as to my recommendations for RNC Growth,” Trump wrote. Sources told Fox thatTrump would likely pick North Carolina GOP chair Michael Whatley as the next RNC chair.
According to a report by CNN, Trump may tap Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters (R), a longtime supporter of his, for the role as chair of the national party. Trump endorsed Whatley and Gruters for RNC officer positions, but neither won their bids.
Trump talked up the job McDaniel did as chair of the Michigan GOP for an episode of Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” saying, “I think she did great when she ran Michigan for me.” He was more guarded in his praise for her results as national chair, “I think she did OK, initially, in the RNC. I would say right now, there’ll probably be some changes made.”
