Donald Trump has a plan to turn the Republic National Committee into a “seamless operation” — and it involves cleaning house. The RNC has historically been headed by presidential loyalists. In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Maureen, even served as its chair. Still, recent shake-ups within the committee have Cockburn wondering if the RNC has become the TNC.
The overhauling of the RNC started earlier this week when sixty employees were told that they were no longer needed at the organization, including five senior staff, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The layoffs represent more than a quarter of the current 200-man staff.
The purge comes just days after Trump’s handpicked officers took over at the RNC. Michael Whatley replaced Ronna McDaniel as co-chair, alongside Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara. His senior campaign advisor Chris LaCivita was named the new chief of staff and his former advisor Sean Cairncross chief operating officer.
Political and data staff received a letter from Cairncross saying that new committee leadership was “in the process of evaluating the organization and staff to ensure the building is aligned with his vision of how to win in November.” Cairncross also sent an email to staff notifying them that some would be asked to resign and reapply. Those who did not reapply would be terminated at the end of the month.
During a speech to RNC employees last Friday, Whatley promised that the committee would work “hand in glove” with the Trump’s campaign to ensure a victory. “If $1 that we have is not directed towards winning this November, that dollar will not be spent,” he said.
Among the money spent on the Trump campaign, Cockburn wonders if some may end up directed towards the former president’s legal fees. “I think that is a big interest to people,” Lara Trump said in February, before taking over at the RNC. “They feel like it’s an attack not just on Donald Trump but on this country.” The one problem: the committee had only about $8 million in its coffers at the end of December, over $500 million short of what the former president owes. It’s no surprise, then, that Lara Trump has called on the RNC to raise just that amount.
The party’s finances are literally merging closer to the Trump campaign as well. The RNC’s full finance and digital teams plan to move to Palm Beach, Florida, where the campaign is based, according to one source. It won’t be long before Trump has drained the entire team out of DC. Just in time for spring break?
