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Newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley and Co-Chair Lara Trump kicked off their first week of leadership by taking decisive and immediate measures to tighten up the operations amid a fast-and-furious election year.
According to Politico, a reported 60 RNC staffers were expected to be cut loose on Monday, just three days after Ms. Trump and Mr. Whatley took control of the RNC on Friday, following former Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel’s exit. Their exclusive report noted that five of those individuals being let go were allegedly members of RNC’s “senior staff.”
Trump Senior Advisor Chris LaCivita has also taken over the position of “chief of staff” at the RNC, according to Axios, confirming swirling reports that he would be taking up a leadership position as well. He is expected to assist with bringing the RNC into tandem with the Trump campaign’s operational baseline.
Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk weighed in on the reported shakeup at the RNC on Monday, writing, “Bloodbath at the RNC is underway. 60+ firings just today. This is excellent. The anti-Trump sleeper cells all have to go. The RNC is getting ready to win.”
He added, “If Elon Musk can fire 75% of Twitter/X and the platform is more successful than ever, than the RNC can afford to cut some fat.”
Democrats have long outraised Republicans in America, and both Whatley and Ms. Trump are looking to change that. In early February, Fox News reported:
“The RNC reported its worst fundraising year since 2013 raising just $87.2 million in 2023, and starting 2024 with just over $8 million in cash on hand. If adjusted for inflation, the RNC’s fundraising was last this low in 1993 — before the 2002 McCain Feingold Act restricted political committee fundraising from corporations and capped donations from individuals.”
By contrast, the DNC raised a reported $120 million in 2023 and built up $21 million cash on hand, according to Fox’s data.
With Whatley and Ms. Trump at the helm of the RNC, the establishment is expected to focus its power and energy on reelecting President Trump by shaping things up – and quickly. “We will build the most secure election operation this party has ever seen,” Lara Trump vowed at CPAC this year.
She has also vowed that “blank checks” and useless expenses, consultants, and vendors at the RNC would be immediately cut upon a leadership transition.