Lara Trump Says Republicans 'Inspired' by Her Leadership of RNC

Lara Trump has said Republicans have been "inspired" by her leadership at the Republican National Committee (RNC).

During an appearance on Rob Schmitt Tonight, Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, who was last week elected as co-chair of the GOP governing body, said more people have donated to the party since she took over because they are "confident" in her leadership with chair Michael Whatley.

The Context

The changes in the party's leadership came last week after Ronna McDaniel, the niece of Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who was backed by Donald Trump to lead the RNC in 2017, resigned after being blamed for a series of funding issues. She was also criticized for the Republicans losing multiple elections since 2020.

Financial issues have indeed dogged the body. At the end of November, the RNC reported its lowest bank balance at that point in any year since 2016, FEC disclosures showed. With $9.96 million in spending money, the RNC had less than half the $21.35 million it reported in 2016 after Donald Trump won the presidential election.

Lara Trump has outlined plans to spend RNC resources on Donald Trump's multiple legal challenges, and said she is also creating an "election integrity division" in the committee to oversee elections across the country. To do so, the body will need to significantly boost its coffers.

However, it is also saving money thanks to a number of layoffs in the team.

What We Know

Asked about her plans to secure more donations to the RNC, Lara Trump said: "I think that the change in leadership at the RNC has really inspired a lot of people to give. This past weekend we had our best fundraising weekend since 2020."

She added: "People understand, this is a must-win election and I think they're very confident in the team we now have between myself as co-chair and Michael Whatley as chairman."

She said she had received phone calls from people who want to donate to the party in the last 36 hours and that she had written an email to supporters asking for donations.

"People understand what is at stake now so that money is going to start coming back in," she said. "We do have to catch up, I believe we will and I believe it is because people are now inspired and they know this is a winning team."

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

Views

Speaking to Newsweek in February, William F. Hall, adjunct professor of political science and business at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, expressed doubts about Lara Trump and said her appointment could signal the end of the Republican Party.

"Regretfully and also very sadly, it now genuinely appears that the former American political party, formerly known and referred to as the 'Grand Old Party' (GOP), may well now be headed the down the path toward extinction, similar to the former American political party known as the: 'Don't Tread on Me' political party," he said.

However writing on X, formerly Twitter, Lara Trump shared a Politico article likening staffing cuts at the GOP governing body to a "bloodbath" and called for further support from the MAGA movement.

She wrote: "MAGA is now in control of the Republican Party!!

"We will continue to need everyone's help all the way across the finish line!

"Do not grow weary. Dig deeper."

What's Next?

Following her election as co-chair, Lara Trump said: "Everything I do at this committee will have one focus: re-electing Donald Trump, flipping the Senate, and expanding the House this November."

Update 03/14/24, 3:30 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.