The new RNC leadership staff is in place, and the top of the food chain is now all loyal to Trump.
Some will say their worst fears came true for the RNC after massive staffing cuts were announced, with the clear intention of folding the RNC operations in with the Trump campaign operations.
Talking Points…
- Massive cuts made to RNC staff
- Reaction
- Analysis
The new chair, Michael Whatley, and the new co-chair, Lara Trump, are making their presence known right out of the gate. Not even a week into their reign, they are calling for the resignation of more than five dozen staff members, looking to fold the RNC operations into the Trump campaign.
The move was announced as a way to cut costs for the RNC to have more money for campaigns, but it is not necessarily being perceived that way by everyone outside the room. This was more or less the biggest fear of Trump's critics within the Republican Party.
Donald Trump's campaign is running low on funds. While the Trump campaign has said it will not ask the RNC to pay for Trump's legal bills, there is obviously nothing stopping the RNC from transferring funds to the Trump campaign to use as it sees fit. With Trump's campaign now basically running the RNC, people are already wondering if campaigns outside of Trump's and candidates he supports will receive help from the RNC.
There were obviously strong reactions on both sides to this argument. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was among those excited about the merger, stating:
"MAGA is now in control of the Republican Party!!
"Make America Great Again" movement. "We will continue to need everyone's help all the way across the finish line! Do not grow weary."
One former RNC official who preferred to keep their name out of the record was not feeling very optimistic about the move, stating:
"Slashing the committee as the general election gets underway seems crazy."
Democrats also pounced on the firings, stating that such a move is "typically not a good sign for a political party."
I thought it was a mistake to put Trump's people in charge of the RNC and I think merging the Trump campaign with the RNC is an even bigger mistake. Trump's loyal supporters will love this move, but this election is about more than just Trump, especially with there being a significant portion of the Republican Party still resisting Trump.
This move will hurt the RNC is terms of donations, not help it, as those who were donating to the RNC to support other campaigns will more than likely now hold their money back if they think it will go to Trump's campaign.
I thought Trump made the right move when he announced that RNC funds would not be used to foot his legal bills, but merging his campaign with the RNC is just a huge mistake. It would be an even bigger mistake if Trump does not win this election, as his team will still have control of the RNC, dictating where the money goes for the next Republican candidate.
This move ensures that, as of right now, Trump controls the entire future of the Republican Party. And while that will make MAGA feel great, there are tens of millions of other conservatives who are now going to throw in the towel, and that is not a good sign for the outcome of the 2024 election.
