The Republican National Committee has responded to a letter of resignation and resignation from former President Trump demanding that the RNC and other Republican Party campaign committees stop using their name and likeness in their fundraising materials.
The RNC told the former president’s lawyer that “he has every right to refer to public figures while participating in a basic political speech protected by the First Amendment.” RNC’s response was first communicated by Politico.
RNC lawyer Justin Riemer said the party would continue to refer to public figures and said Trump “reaffirmed” with RNC president Ronna McDaniel this past weekend approving the use of his name by RNC. raise money. The RNC continued to use Trump’s name in its correspondence, including an email Sunday urging supporters to “DEFEND President Trump’s First American policies.”
Last week, Politico reported that Mr. Trump’s lawyers sent letters of cessation to the RNC, the Republican National Congress Committee and the Republican National Senate Committee to, according to them, use his name in merchandise and collection emails background. Other “fake PACs” who also used Trump’s name also received letters.
The letter of cessation and withdrawal addressed to the RNC called on the committee to “immediately cease and stop using the unauthorized use of the name, image and / or likeness of President Donald J. Trump throughout fundraising.” persuasion and / or discourse “.
The Trump campaign and RNC’s joint fundraising committee, Trump Victory, raised $ 366 million in 2019 and 2020. In his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump encouraged donors to donate in his new PAC, Save America, which will have him competing with other GOP groups for money.
“There’s only one way to contribute to our efforts to elect the first American Republican conservatives and in turn make the United States big again and that’s through Save America PAC and DonaldJTrump.com,” Trump said. . He repeated the fundraising launch in a statement Monday night and said, “There is no more money for RINOS (only in Republican name). They do nothing but hurt the Republican party and our large base of votes: they will never lead us to greatness “.
His move to control the use of his image establishes competition with the Republican Party for donations that could lead to Mr. Trump having more power to reform the Republican party in his image. While in many cases their interests will be aligned, the former president and Republicans could clash during primaries. The RNC does not take a position in the primaries, and it is likely that the campaign arms of the Senate and House Parliament will be on the side of any Republican Party incumbent, although their support levels may vary.
But Trump has already noted that he was coming out for revenge and was looking for people to challenge Republican lawmakers who voted to charge him earlier this year. He has already backed Max Miller, a former aide who is running to oust Ohio Congressman Anthony Gonzalez, one of ten House Republicans who voted to oust Trump.
“Get rid of everyone,” Trump said during his CPAC speech, referring to Republicans who supported the ouster.