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Lara Trump is the wife of former President Donald Trump’s third child Eric Trump
Former US President Donald Trump nominated his daughter-in-law to chair the Republican National Committee (RNC).
Trump announced his support for Lara Trump and North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley.
His endorsement Monday follows reports that he is growing dissatisfied with the RNC’s current leadership.
The commission will vote on a new leader if current chairwoman Ronna McDaniel resigns.
US media reported that McDaniel may leave his post after the South Carolina Republican primary election scheduled for February 24th.
As an organization, the RNC focuses on raising money for the party and getting Republicans to vote.
As the leading Republican candidate in this year’s election, Trump’s support is expected to give RNC members a certain amount of influence.
Trump said in a statement Monday night that Whatley, currently the committee’s general counsel, “has done a great job in his home state of North Carolina” and that he should be the next RNC chairman.
He also praised Whatley’s commitment to “election integrity.” Whatley has previously defended the former president’s baseless claims of election fraud in the 2020 election.
Trump said he supports his “very talented” daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who is married to his son Eric, for the role of RNC co-chair.
“Lara is an extremely gifted communicator and is dedicated to everything MAGA stands for,” Trump said.
Trump has worked closely with the RNC in the past and is seen by the committee as an effective fundraiser.
Party rules require one man and one woman to serve at the helm of the RNC.
The former president also said he has asked his current presidential campaign co-director, Chris LaCivita, to assume the role of chief operating officer of the RNC.
Politico reported If Lacivita were to take on the role, she would remain Trump’s co-campaign manager.
Trump’s endorsement would mean his campaign would work closely with the committee and its operations.
But his drumbeat wasn’t always effective. Whaley was unable to run for co-chair in 2023 despite Trump’s prior support.
The call for a leadership change comes after disagreements between Trump and current RNC chairman McDaniel over the Republican primary debates ahead of this year’s election. The former president has refused to participate in either meeting.
She also faces pressure over the party’s poor performance in recent elections and poor fundraising.
He was scheduled to hold the job until 2025, but news of his possible resignation emerged after meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last week.
At that meeting, Mr. McDaniel told Mr. Trump that he would do whatever was best for the party, including resigning.
When conservative network Newsmax asked Trump last week whether McDaniel should resign, Trump said: “I think she knows that, I think she understands that.” .