Donald Trump Plans Republican Leadership Shake-Up

Former President Donald Trump has suggested Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel should step aside from her role amid mounting criticism.

McDaniel, who has served as the RNC chairwoman since 2017, has been criticized for funding issues within the GOP governing body, as well as for the Republicans losing multiple elections since 2020, leading to calls for her to resign from her role.

When asked Monday night by Newsmax' Rob Schmitt about whether it is "time for Ronna McDaniel to step aside," he replied: "I think she knows that, I think she understands that."

Newsweek has contacted the RNC by email to comment on this story.

It comes amid concerns about the RNC's financial performance. In November 2023, the GOP governing body reported its lowest bank balance at that point in any year since 2016, disclosures to the Federal Election Commission showed. With $9.96 million in spending money, the RNC had less than half the $21.35 million it reported in the year Trump won the presidential election.

Trump also signaled he was distancing himself from McDaniel on Sunday during an interview on Fox News. "I think she did great when she ran Michigan for me," Trump said. "I think she did okay, initially, in the RNC. I would say right now there'll probably be some changes made."

On Monday night, he said he would "be making a decision" about "RNC Growth" after the upcoming Republican primary race in South Carolina.

On his social media platform, Truth Social, he wrote: "Things are looking great in the Presidential Race of 2024 against Crooked Joe Biden. We have Leads, in many cases substantial, in virtually every Head-to-Head Poll. The Primary seems to be over, but I'll be going to South Carolina next week to finish off a very unpopular Candidate.

"On Thursday, I'm heading to Nevada for the Nevada Caucus, where there are 26 Delegates—Hopefully, we'll get most of them. In my successful run in 2016, the State of Michigan really came through—First time in Decades that it was won by a Republican, and it was headed up by my friend Ronna McDaniel. 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."

Aside from Trump, other Republican figures have criticized McDaniel. The ex-president's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, said on social media on Monday: "Ronna has come to the end of the line."

Speaking to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on The Charlie Kirk Show last week, Bannon said the Republicans were not united because of "horrible leadership" at the RNC.

He said the RNC needs to change. "If there's not changes coming out of the RNC in this meeting, then I think it is going to be tough," he said. "President Trump will win, but it's going to make it so tough."

Update 2/6/24, 4:30 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.