Donald Trump is wasting little time putting his imprint on the Republican Party just days after becoming its presumptive presidential nominee.
As the Republican National Committee meets here Friday for its spring meeting, members are set to elevate Trump’s endorsed candidates – North Carolina GOP chairman Michael Whatley and the former president’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump – to serve as the organization’s new chair and co-chair, respectively.
The two are expected to be quickly elected to succeed RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and RNC co-chairman Drew McKissick, committee officials told CNN. Whatley and Lara Trump face no challengers.
Trump is also planning to install two of his senior advisers, Chris LaCivita and James Blair, to serve in senior positions at the RNC. LaCivita is expected to take on the role of the committee’s chief operating officer, while Blair will help drive the RNC’s political strategy, sources familiar with the plans told CNN. Both will continue in their roles as advisers to Trump’s 2024 campaign.
The leadership changes aren’t entirely out of the ordinary. A national committee is typically overhauled after the party has a de facto or official presidential nominee. The changes normally come in the form of a new chairperson or a top official from the presidential campaign moving over to the committee.
This time, however, people close to the former president and at the RNC describe the shift as a more of a takeover. Trump is looking to sync the RNC closely with his presidential campaign, building out a team that will indulge in his focus on election fraud and improve its fundraising prowess – at a time when the committee finds itself in dire financial straits.
The changes come as Trump is eager to deploy the full weight of the…
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