Former President Donald Trump‘s team recently rehired 60 former Republican National Committee staffers who were asked to resign when Trump took over the party‘s financing arm, marking the latest twist for the committee.
The 60 staffers, which include regional political directors, members of the data and state strategy teams, and most of the RNC’s state directors, were initially asked to resign and reapply for their positions during the first day of Trump’s takeover.
Several of the people who were not rehired were people who had leaked information, the campaign said in a call to reporters last week.
“Chris [LaCivita] and Susie [Wiles] care about the status of the RNC and how the team comes together,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez told Axios. “The leaders talk to make sure they are on the same page.”
The reversal is the latest in a string of issues for the RNC since Trump and his allies took power last month. Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, and Michael Whatley are now RNC co-chairs after former RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel’s was ousted.
Other issues include backlash over a reported plan to cut community centers and an early voting program, backlash over Lara Trump suggesting the RNC might pay the former president’s legal bills, and asking job applicants whether they believe the 2020 election was stolen.
The plan to cut community centers and an early voting program forced Whatley to put out a statement of support for the program and centers, and the RNC has clarified that it is not paying Trump’s legal fees, but a pro-Trump PAC is helping with the costs.
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All the bad press had top leaders, including co-campaign manager for Trump, Susie Wiles, concerned. On March 15, Wiles told staffers that things had to change, according to Axios.
The reversal also highlights the committee’s need to expand its operations in order to be fully operational and effective. It comes as Trump and the RNC finish the first quarter of the 2024 fiscal year with a combined $93 million in cash. However, Trump is expected to rake in another $33 million from a fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
