Disregarding Tuesday’s report from a major legacy outlet and general Republican Party scuttlebutt, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel issued this missive on Wednesday to RNC members letting them know that the rumors of her demise have been greatly exaggerated. Translation: You’ll pry me out of the RNC when I am good and ready, and not before.
Trump 2016 campaign chair and podcast host Steve Bannon tweeted out a copy of the letter this morning.
🚨EXCLUSIVE: RNC Update email from Ronna McDaniel to RNC members today
Bannon: “Ronna McDaniel Not Going to Leave RNC Chair Until FORCED to Leave the Premises—Anyone Telling the President Otherwise is Not Serving Him Well” pic.twitter.com/I2OQWfFa9s
— Grace Chong 🇺🇸 (@gc22gc) February 7, 2024
Tuesday, The Washington Examiner went into detail about the rise and potential fallout of McDaniel’s tenure at the RNC.
McDaniel has faced extreme scrutiny for her role as chairwoman, particularly after the GOP’s expected “red wave” in the 2022 midterm elections did not make landfall. The opposition from MAGA Republicans toward McDaniel that followed reflected an increased level of divergence within the party, as several conservatives began to question McDaniel’s leadership and her support of the former president openly.
[…]
In the 2023 off-year election cycle, Republicans were once again disappointed after the Virginia legislature flipped to Democratic control and Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) soundly won reelection against Daniel Cameron, the state’s attorney general who was endorsed by Trump.
But despite the widespread groundswell for McDaniel to step down immediately, and a contradictory report by The New York Times that this has been months in the making, McDaniel appears to dismiss it all out of hand. This letter comes off more than a little arrogant and a bit defiant.
I am currently on the road fundraising, we’re staffing up with staff on the ground in 15 states, the team is busy making phone calls and knocking doors to get out the vote for Mazi Pilip in NY-03, with Early Voting open and the Special Election on February 13. We have more lawsuits on the horizon, but we’re currently engaged in 77 election lawsuits across 23 states, many of which will have major ramifications across the country. Day in and day out, we continue to hold Joe Biden and Democrats feet to the fire for their continued assaults on our freedoms and failures, on everything from the border crisis, Bidenomics, and skyrocketing crime.
In other words, “I’m very busy and important helping candidates and fighting the Democrats—I cannot be bothered to be held accountable for the state of the party.” Well, that much is obvious. Instead of addressing the questions surrounding the spending concerns brought to light by our Managing Editor Jennifer Van Laar, and the recent shutting down of Hispanic outreach, McDaniel would prefer to look as though she is being productive, when election results and voter outreach have indicated otherwise.
Myself and my staff are refusing to be distracted by the outside noise and we remain committed to our mission —rumors to the contrary are simply not true. Nothing has changed and there will not be any changes decided on until after South Carolina, when we may have our eventual nominee.
So, if nothing has changed, then Mike Reed, McDaniel’s chief of staff, is not leaving at the end of February as reported? Kind of confusing. Also, note McDaniel is mirroring the language RNC spokesperson Keith Schipper gave to The Washington Times.
“Nothing has changed. This will be decided after South Carolina,” RNC spokesperson Keith Schipper said in a statement to The Times.
Former President Trump’s language issued in a Truth Social post on Monday was congenial, but he also indicated he would give recommendations after South Carolina on the RNC’s “growth.”
As she concludes her letter, McDaniel tries to come off conciliatory and play the Leader of the Team card. However, after the events of this week, it comes off as hollow and a skosh desperate.
I want to thank you for your outpouring messages of support, I am proud of this Committee and our work together over the past several cycles. I know you all are working diligently in your states alongside state, local, and grassroots leaders towards victory this fall. I also know that we’re not done yet; there’s a lot of work to be done in the next nine months to make Joe Biden a one term President, and we’re just getting started.
As always, feel free to reach out to me, Mike, or any one on my team with any questions or needs you may have.
Thanks,
Ronna
It’s been a popcorn week so far, and it does not look to end before February 24, so sit back and grab another bowl!
