Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley expressed concern on Monday about the state of the Republican party and the Republican National Committee (RNC), describing it as a “ship with a hole in it” due to the influence of Donald Trump.
Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the RNC, announced her resignation on Monday. She has faced increasing criticism, especially from Trump supporters, regarding her performance in the role. Her resignation is set to become effective on March 8, just three days after Super Tuesday.
Since news broke about McDaniel’s resignation, President Trump has officially thrown his support behind Lara Trump, who is married to his son Eric, as a candidate for the position of RNC co-chair.
In the 2024 presidential run, Haley has been lagging behind Trump. Recently, she suffered a defeat at the hands of the former president in South Carolina on Sunday. According to The Associated Press, Trump secured a victory with 59.8 percent of the vote. In contrast, Haley, the state’s former governor and a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, received a vote share of 39.5 percent. Despite facing calls to withdraw from the race, Haley remains determined to persevere and continue her fight.
During an interview on Fox News’ “The Story With Martha MacCallum” on Monday, Haley highlighted the current status of the RNC and the revelation that funds from the organization will be allocated to cover Trump’s legal costs.
According to Haley, the Republican National Committee (RNC) is undergoing significant changes even before the primary is over. She points out that the current chair has been replaced, and President Trump is appointing his daughter-in-law and campaign chairs as operatives within the RNC. Haley expresses concern that the RNC is becoming solely focused on Trump and suggests that it is turning into his personal legal fund.
Newsweek has contacted Haley’s and Trump’s campaign via email for comment.
“This is not what we should be witnessing within our Republican party. It is akin to a sinking ship with a gaping hole. If we do not take corrective measures, we are bound to lose in November and veer towards a socialist agenda. This is the message I am striving to convey to Republicans and all Americans,” Haley stated.
Haley’s remarks follow Lara Trump’s statement to Newsmax, where she expressed her commitment to utilizing every penny of the RNC’s resources to support her father-in-law’s re-election in November.
“If elected to this position, rest assured that there will be no more extravagant expenditures like the $70,000 spent on flowers,” she confidently declared. “Every cent will be dedicated solely to the RNC’s primary objective: securing the presidency for Donald J. Trump.”
On Friday, Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, made it clear that he will not be using funds from the RNC to cover the former president’s legal expenses.
In his New York civil fraud case, Judge Arthur Engoron fined Trump, the leading contender for the GOP nomination in the 2024 presidential race, approximately $355 million. The case accused Trump, along with his two adult sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, The Trump Organization, and two executives from the firm, of fraudulently inflating asset values to obtain more favorable bank loans and tax benefits. Despite the verdict, Trump continues to assert his innocence, alleging political motivations behind the charges and expressing his intention to appeal.
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