Ronna McDaniel, right, chair of the Republican National Committee, and Kayleigh McEnany, White House press secretary, hold a press conference to discuss Pennsylvania litigation and give an overview of the post-election day. Monday at the RNC on Capitol Hill. , November 9, 2020.
Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
Leaders of the top three Republican Party committees on Wednesday praised former President Donald Trump for pledging their support, though Trump is actively urging Republican Party donors to send him their money directly.
The committee’s response was the latest indication that the Republican Party remains firmly in the hands of the former president, even as it destroys prominent party members who have criticized him.
“We look forward to working with President Trump to regain our congressional majorities and deliver results for the American people,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Ronna McDaniel’s joint statement from Republican National Senate Committee Chair Rick Scott, and Republican Congress National Committee Chairman Tom Emmer. .
“The RNC, NRSC and NRCC are grateful for President Trump’s support, both in the past and in the future,” the statement said. “Through their powerful agenda, we were able to break fundraising records and elect Republicans up and down in the vote.”
Trump, who is gaining overwhelming support among Republican voters even after losing his re-election bid, is discouraging Republicans from sending money to “people who don’t consider the Republican Party’s best interests.”
These people, according to Trump, form an as-yet-unspecified group of “fools” and “RINO,” a derogatory term meaning “only Republicans in name.”
Trump directs people to his own political action committee, Save America. Donations to this committee, known as the Leadership PAC, can potentially be used to pay for all sorts of personal expenses.
Since losing to President Joe Biden, Trump has attacked numerous top Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Republican Conference Speaker Liz Cheney. He has continued to deal with unfounded conspiracy theories and lies about election fraud that banned him from social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Over the past month, Trump has repeatedly stated that there is “only one way” to keep the so-called America First movement alive, contributing to his PAC Save America and through his website.
In his most recent statement Tuesday night, Trump said, “I fully support the Republican party and the important Republican Party committees, but I do not support the RINOs or fools.”
That statement stated that by giving Save America, “help the America First movement and do it well.”
Trump’s PAC has reportedly raised tens of millions of dollars since it was formed after the Nov. 3 election. That money can be used for “almost anything” Trump wants, experts say, including providing benefits for him and his family.
“It’s entirely possible that Trump could use Save America both to maintain control and influence over the Republican Party and to personally benefit him and his family,” Brendan Fischer, director of the Federal Reform Program, told CNBC. of the Legal Center of the Campaign.
At the same time, Trump is pushing his own PAC and demanding that the GOP stop using his name and likeness in his own fundraising efforts.
Trump’s lawyers sent letters of cessation and resignation to the three Republican Party committees last week. On Monday, RNC chief executive J. Justin Riemer rejected Trump’s demand, saying the organization “has every right to refer to public figures … and will continue to do so in search of these common goals “.
Wednesday’s statement by RNC, NRSC and NRCC seemed to show that the Republican Party remains willing to invoke the Trump brand in its fundraising messages.
Trump and RNC raised hundreds of millions of dollars in the 2020 election cycle, as well as more than $ 200 million in the weeks before and after the election, when Trump aggressively disseminated conspiracy theories against election fraud.