The leaders of the three key Republican committees in a statement on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to continue working with former President Donald Trump amid a tiff over the use of his name and likeness for fundraising.
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman (NRCC) Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) released the statement shortly after Trump issued one affirming his support for the committees and the GOP.
“The RNC, NRSC and NRCC are grateful for President Trump’s support, both past and future. Through his powerful agenda, we were able to break fundraising records and elect Republicans up and down the ballot. Together, we look forward to working with President Trump to retake our Congressional majorities and deliver results for the American people,” McDaniel, Scott, and Emmer said in a joint statement.
At the core of the feud is Trump’s plan to support primary challengers against the Republicans who voted in favor of impeachment, a gambit that is counter to the GOP standard practice of backing Republican incumbents.
In his own statement earlier on Tuesday, Trump again directed supporters to donate to his campaign website and political action committee (PAC), while expressing support for the GOP and the committees.
“I fully support the Republican Party and important GOP Committees, but I do not support RINOs and fools, and it is not their right to use my likeness or image to raise funds. So much money is being raised and completely wasted by people that do not have the GOP’s best interests in mind. If you donate to our Save America PAC at DonaldJTrump.com, you are helping the America First movement and doing it right. We will WIN, and we will WIN BIG! Our Country is being destroyed by the Democrats!” Trump said.
Trump sent letters to the RNC, NRSC ,and NRCC on March 5 demanding that the three committees stop using his name and likeness to raise funds. The RNC responded by brushing aside the concern and suggesting that the fundraising wrinkle had already been ironed out by Trump and McDaniel since Trump’s missive was sent.
“President Trump and Chairwoman McDaniel enjoy a close relationship, and we understand that President Trump reaffirmed to her over the weekend that he approves of the RNC’s current use of his name in fundraising and other materials, including for our upcoming donor retreat event at Palm Beach at which we look forward to him participating,” the RNC letter, obtained by The Epoch Times, states. “The RNC has not sent any fundraising requests in President Trump’s name or used his image since before he left office, nor would it do so without his prior approval.”
Trump on March 8 appeared to respond to news reports about the RNC’s response with a statement reviving the back-and-forth.
“No more money for RINOS,” Trump said in a statement, using an acronym for Republicans in Name Only. “They do nothing but hurt the Republican Party and our great voting base—they will never lead us to Greatness.”
