Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump has given a sly wink and nod to his loyal supporters by signaling that he will be throwing his weight behind a key ally on the Republican National Committee (RNC). Michael Whatley, chairman of the North Carolina GOP, has been handpicked by the former President to replace Ronna McDaniel as the chair of the RNC. This choice ensures that Trump will have a trusted ally who will vigorously support his claims that the 2020 election was stolen by President Joe Biden. It’s no wonder that Trump finds Whatley appealing; after all, he is a staunch “stop the steal guy” who helped deliver North Carolina to Trump in 2020.
McDaniel’s decision to step down as RNC chair comes after months of criticism over the party’s underwhelming fundraising efforts and lackluster election integrity campaign. It seems that McDaniel’s leadership was about as effective as a chocolate teapot. She finally announced her resignation on February 25th, the day after the South Carolina Republican primary. Coincidentally, this announcement followed a one-on-one meeting with President Trump at his luxurious Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump, always a master of subtlety, hinted at leadership changes in the RNC with a post on his new Truth Social media platform. Talk about making an entrance.
The appointment of Whatley is a smart move by Trump. As the chairman of the NCGOP, Whatley has proven his ability to rally the troops and secure supermajorities in the state legislature for three consecutive years. Winning re-elections by comfortable margins, Whatley has shown that he can bring Trump to victory once again in 2024. His selection has received praise from his North Carolina colleagues, such as Susan Mills, the vice chair of the NC Republican Party. She lauded Whatley’s track record and fully endorsed him as the next RNC chairman. Together, they’ve achieved incredible successes in North Carolina, including winning the state for Trump in 2020, electing a Republican Supreme Court, regaining legislative supermajorities, and securing a Senate seat for Ted Budd. Talk about a powerhouse duo.
Now that Ronna is stepping down later this month, I want to make a few points clear.
I have said repeatedly my opposition to Ronna as Chair was nothing personal. She has always been kind to me personally and I'm sure there is a role for her to play in the future. I genuinely…
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 7, 2024
The RNC has been hemorrhaging money under McDaniel’s leadership, spending more than it’s taken in for three consecutive years. It’s been an embarrassing defeat for McDaniel, who promised to bring back high-level donors who were turned off by Trump’s 2024 campaign. Unfortunately for her, those promised funds never materialized. It turns out that Trump’s small-dollar donors have remained fiercely loyal, out-raising President Biden and leaving the RNC scrambling for cash. Recent filings revealed that the RNC has a measly $8 million in cash on hand, along with $1.8 million in debts. In comparison, the Democratic Party’s war chest is towering over them. Yikes.
Whatley’s main challenge will be convincing McDaniel’s allies on the RNC to rally behind him. McDaniel had won the majority of support from the 186-member committee during a secret vote against Harmeet Dhillon, who positioned herself as more aligned with Trump’s MAGA base. Additionally, Whatley will need to make inroads with Turning Point USA, a conservative organization led by Charlie Kirk. They have made it their mission to lobby for McDaniel’s firing and will be a force to contend with. But fear not, dear readers, Whatley is up to the challenge. He understands that a strong RNC is crucial for victory, and he is determined to make it happen. President Trump deserves nothing less.
And so, the stage is set for a new chapter in the Republican Party. With Whatley at the helm, and Trump’s shadow looming large behind him, the GOP is poised to rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Brace yourselves, liberals. The conservative revolution is just getting started.
