Lara Trump says she’d spend ‘every single penny’ of RNC funds to elect father-in-law

Lara Trump doubled down on her support for her father-in-law, former President Trump, vowing Tuesday to spend “every single penny” of Republican National Committee (RNC) funds to reelect him to the White House. 

Asked by Newsmax host Rob Schmitt what needs to change to make the RNC more competitive, Lara Trump said Tuesday: “The RNC needs to be the leanest, most lethal political fighting machine we’ve ever seen in American history.” 

“That is the goal over the next nine-and-a-half months. If I am elected to this position, I can assure you, there will not be any more $70,000 — or whatever exorbitant amount of money it was — spent on flowers,” she continued. “Every single penny will go to the No. 1 and the only job of the RNC — that is elected Donald J. Trump as president of the United States and saving this country.” 

The pledge comes just days after the former president threw his support behind his daughter-in-law to serve as co-chair of the RNC. Donald Trump called her “an extremely talented communicator who is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for” while also endorsing North Carolina GOP Party Chair Michael Whatley to serve as RNC chair.

Lara Trump is married to Eric Trump and has been involved with the RNC and party donors since the her father-in-law’s time in the Oval Office. If she and Whatley are elected by RNC members, it would secure a full takeover of the committee by the former president. 

Donald Trump said Sunday he also asked his senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita to essentially serve as the RNC’s chief operating officer to supervise the day-to-day operations of the committee ahead of the general election. 

The current RNC chair, Ronna McDaniel, is likely to step down after the South Carolina primary Feb. 24, according to widespread speculation. 

Tensions have simmered between Trump and McDaniel in recent months after the former president declined to explicitly back McDaniel or a challenger during the 2023 leadership race and has called on the party to rally on his side.