Former President Donald Trump said Sunday that changes may be happening at the Republican National Committee when he was asked about RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel.
“I think she did great when she ran Michigan for me. I think she did okay, initially, in the RNC. I would say, right now, there will probably be some changes made,” Mr. Trump said during an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
The Washington Times has reached out to the RNC for comment.
The RNC last week held its winter meeting in Las Vegas, where its 168 members gathered and some reportedly aired grievances behind closed doors to Ms. McDaniel.
However, she called for unity among state party chairs and top GOP leaders.
“We Republicans will stick together, as united as the union our party long ago fought to preserve,” said Ms. McDaniel, The Associated Press reported, citing people who were in the room and disclosed her remarks on condition of anonymity to discuss a private gathering. “We’ll have our battles ahead of us, but they’re good battles, and they’re worth fighting for.”
In addition, Turning Point Action, a conservative political advocacy nonprofit that opposes Ms. McDaniel’s tenure, was waiting for the RNC in Las Vegas when its members arrived.
“The grassroots is laser-focused on replacing ineffective leaders, and so I don’t think people are going to ever get on board with Ronna McDaniel,” said Andrew Kolvet, spokesman for Turning Point USA, the parent organization of Turning Point Action. “The sooner we have a new chair, the better.”
The Washington Times first reported that the cash-strapped RNC is seeking out a new credit line and that individual state parties had a difficult time fundraising, while others had weathered leadership issues.
Asked about the RNC‘s financial strains, Mr. Trump said, “I have a lot of money and the money that [the RNC] gets, people are not looking at the RNC.”He added, “They want changes. You have to understand. I have nothing to do with the RNC. I’m separate.”
A party official close to Ms. McDaniel insisted the new credit line is nothing unusual. The official said the executive committee authorizes more credit every year in case it is needed, but that does not mean the party will draw from it.
The Democratic National Committee reported having about $20 million in the bank as of Nov. 30, more than double the RNC‘s $9 million cash on hand, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.
Some have blamed the RNC‘s financial hardships on a double-edged “Trump effect.” According to that theory, big-dollar donors weren’t giving last year because many didn’t want to support Mr. Trump and small-dollar contributions were not coming in because those donors did not think the RNC was sufficiently supporting Mr. Trump.