Former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election, issued an ultimatum to Ronna McDaniel, the Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC). Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to demand the cancellation of the remaining GOP primary debates, urging the RNC to redirect funds towards what he referred to as “STOP THE STEAL,” echoing his unfounded claims of election fraud from the 2020 presidential race.
Citing a recent Harvard CAPS/Harris poll that showcased his substantial lead over Republican rivals and a growing advantage over President Joe Biden in a hypothetical 2020 election rematch, Trump called for a strategic reallocation of resources. Despite his refusal to participate in the primary debates, he argued that the money saved could be effectively used against Democrats in a bid to prevent what he baselessly asserted as an impending theft of the election.
Trump’s ultimatum went further, suggesting a potential overhaul of the RNC if McDaniel did not comply with his demand. In a post, he stated, “RNC must save money on lowest ever ratings debates. Use it against the Democrats to STOP THE STEAL! If not, REVAMP THE RNC, NOW!!!”
Trump’s call for a revamp included the possibility of removing McDaniel from her leadership position within the RNC. The former president emphasized the urgency of the situation by highlighting favorable poll results, proclaiming, “GREAT POLLS JUST RELEASED – BEST EVER! Harvard/Harris TRUMP 67%, DeSanctimonious 9%, Birdbrain 8%, Ramaswamy 5%, Christie – dead in the water, a total loser!”
When contacted for comment, the RNC remained silent on Trump’s ultimatum.
The move comes in the wake of internal strife within the Republican Party, with candidate Vivek Ramaswamy criticizing McDaniel during a recent GOP primary debate, accusing her of steering the party towards a losing trajectory in national elections. Notably, McDaniel has faced criticism from within the party for maintaining an anti-abortion stance, despite claims that it contributed to recent election failures.
Trump has been a vocal opponent of the ongoing debates, accusing the RNC of disregarding his high poll numbers. Last month, top Trump campaign advisers demanded the cancellation of the debates to allow the RNC to concentrate its efforts on aiding Trump’s potential 2024 victory over Biden.
The Harvard CAPS/Harris poll released on Monday reinforced Trump’s standing as the preferred choice for the 2024 GOP nomination, with a commanding 67% support among Republicans. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emerged as the runner-up at 9%, followed by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley at 8%, businessman Ramaswamy at 5%, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 3%.
The survey, conducted online on November 15 and 16, indicated Trump leading Biden by 7 points in a head-to-head general election contest, representing an increase from a 5-point lead in October. However, 11% of respondents remained undecided.
