Donald Trump cemented his grip on the Republican National Committee on Friday after his daughter-in-law and another ally assumed top leadership posts amid a debate among members over whether the organization should help pay his legal bills.
RNC members meeting in Houston voted to appoint North Carolina Republican Party head Michael Whatley and Lara Trump as chair and co-chair of the organization, which will play a key role in marshaling voters and funds for the Nov. 5 general election.
The move comes after Trump swept the Super Tuesday primary contests, prompting Nikki Haley to drop out of the Republican race and all but assuring the former U.S. president will be the nominee and face off against President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
“The goal on November 5th is to win, and as my father-in-law says ‘bigly’,” Lara Trump said, promising that “every single penny of every dollar raised” would go toward the goal of winning the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate for Republicans.
“If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed…and we will deserve it”
— Lindsey Graham (May 3, 2016)