Over 60 employees at the Republican National Committee were let go shortly after new leaders, personally chosen by former President Donald Trump, assumed control.
On Monday, the RNC sent out notices to numerous members of their staff who were employed in various divisions, including communications, political, data, and election integrity.
Three days after Michael Whatley, the former chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, and Lara Trump, Trump’s daughter-in-law, were unanimously elected as the chair and co-chair of the party, the layoffs occurred.
Chris LaCivita, who is Trump’s co-campaign manager, along with James Blair, a senior Trump campaign adviser, will continue their roles in the Trump campaign while also collaborating with the RNC.
According to a senior campaign official from the Trump campaign, the recent changes in leadership and layoffs are aimed at streamlining the operation and reducing redundancies between the campaign and the RNC. The ultimate goal is to create a unified and efficient operation by placing the most talented individuals in key positions.
Certain positions were eliminated due to their duplication at the campaign level, and the remaining staff members were requested to resign and reapply.
A former RNC adviser, who was among the 60 staffers laid off by the new leadership, expressed his disapproval of the changes at the RNC, referring to it as “quite a questionable operation.”
According to a former adviser, the team lacks doers and is filled with individuals who have plenty of ideas but lack execution skills. The former adviser predicts that the team will continue to push these individuals until they reach their breaking point, which tends to happen quickly in the intense environment of a presidential campaign.
According to the adviser, one possible reason for the culling at the RNC could be to prioritize saving money, which is important to LaCivita.
According to the former adviser, he believes that the focus of spending should be more on TV and mail rather than on infrastructure. He recalls that this strategy was successful during the 2004 Bush campaign and suggests that it could potentially yield positive results once again.
The Trump campaign and RNC are anticipated to enhance their coordination once the president secures enough delegates to secure the GOP nomination, a milestone that could be reached as early as Tuesday. Currently, both organizations are lagging behind President Biden in terms of fundraising.
In February, the Biden campaign began with a substantial advantage, boasting a staggering $130 million in cash across its affiliated committees, including the DNC. In contrast, the Trump campaign, the RNC, and the political action committees that backed him only had $65 million on hand. The stark difference in financial resources set the stage for a potentially lopsided battle in the upcoming election.
The RNC, which was also facing financial difficulties, will play a crucial role in Trump’s reelection campaign. As per the latest filing with the Federal Election Commission, the RNC currently has only $8.7 million in available cash.
“We need to be responsible with the donors’ money,” emphasized Jason Miller, a senior adviser for the Trump campaign, during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday regarding the RNC shakeup. He stressed the importance of addressing concerns about excessive bureaucracy and individuals who have lost their focus within the organization. Miller emphasized the need to streamline operations and ensure that resources are directed towards supporting those working in the field, rather than being consumed by activities in Washington.”
Former President Donald Trump is currently grappling with a growing burden of legal fees and fines stemming from his numerous criminal and civil court cases. Just recently, he was required to post a substantial bond of over $91 million in order to initiate the appeal process against the $83 million judgment imposed upon him in the defamation lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.
In February, a judge issued an order for Trump to pay more than $454 million as a result of the judgment in his civil fraud trial. Additionally, in that case, the former president is accumulating over $100,000 of post-judgment interest per day.
During a Trump rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, reporters questioned LaCivita about whether the RNC would cover Trump’s legal expenses. In response, LaCivita firmly stated, “No.”
