Trump Calls for Leadership Change at RNC, Pushing Election Integrity-Focused Official to Replace McDaniel

The former president, who has falsely insisted that voter fraud cost him the 2020 election, has called for current RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel to be replaced by Michael Whatley, the North Carolina GOP chairman.

The new co-chair, Trump said, should be his daughter-in-law Lara Trump.

Days earlier, Trump and McDaniel met at his Mar-a-Lago residence and agreed to delay a decision on her future.

The move reflects Trump's urgency to force Republicans to unite behind him in a likely rematch against President Joe Biden.

centrists within the party are pushing back on Trump's demands, warning that the former president is overtly attempting to take control of the GOP.

McDaniel, the niece of Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, was Trump's hand-picked choice to lead the RNC shortly after his 2016 election.

The 50-year-old from Michigan was a strong advocate for the former president and helped reshape the GOP's governing body in his image.

However, the "Make America Great Again" movement has blamed her for the party's struggles in recent national elections.

None of Trump's leadership wishes will come to fruition without an in-person vote by the Republican National Committee, which is expected to meet later this spring.

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