Lara Trump unanimously elected co-chair of the RNC: Ex-president expands his influence even more in the GOP as his daughter-in-law takes key position after Ronna McDaniel stood down

Former President Donald Trump completed his takeover of the Republican Party on Friday when his daughter-in-law was elected co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

Lara Trump took over one of the top roles alongside another Trump loyalist, after Ronna McDaniel stepped aside.

It comes as the former president approaches his third consecutive party nomination.

While it is standard practice for nominees to merge their campaigns with the party apparatus, Trump will not receive the official nomination until July.

And while his team has pledged not to use RNC funds to pay his personal legal bills, his key lieutenants should face little trouble now.

Lara Trump even said she believed voters would approve of the party footing the bill.

At the same time, Michael Whatley, a North Carolina Republican who has made false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, was elected national chairman.

“As co-chair, I will be focused on protecting our elections, ensuring the RNC’s money is spent with maximum impact, and building out key capabilities to ensure we win close races at the margins,” said Lara, wife of Trump’s son Eric.

“Everything I do on this committee will have one focus: reelecting Donald Trump, flipping the Senate and expanding the House in November.”

She is expected to focus on TV appearances and fundraising.

Whatley said, “We are already well on our way to making Joe Biden a one-term president, and I look forward to working with every Republican across the country to deliver Republican victories this election.”

McDaniel was handpicked by Trump to lead the commission for seven years but fell out of favor with the former president’s MAGA movement, which felt it lacked loyalty and was responsible for election defeats.

Ronna McDaniel resigned after losing the trust of Trump and his lieutenants

Eric Trump (L), son of former US President and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump, and his wife Lara Trump attend a Super Tuesday election night watch party at Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida

She called for unity as she left her role.

“We have to stop attacking other Republicans,” she told committee members at their meeting in Houston, Texas, according to the Associated Press.

“If we spend our time attacking each other, we guarantee that the Democrats will win.”

The takeover will be completed by Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita, who will become the committee’s chief of staff and be responsible for day-to-day operations.