(EDITOR'S NOTE: This piece has been updated to reflect an email from McDaniel to RNC members Wednesday morning in which she cast doubt on reports of her planned resignation.)
Embattled Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel plans to resign after the South Carolina primary, the New York Times reported Tuesday evening.
The chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, has told former President Donald J. Trump she is planning to step down shortly after the South Carolina primary on Feb. 24, according to two people familiar with the plans.
Mr. Trump is then likely to promote the chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, Michael Whatley, as her replacement, according to several people familiar with the discussions. Under the arcana of the committee’s rules, however, Mr. Trump cannot simply install someone, and a new election must take place.
Mr. Trump likes Mr. Whatley for one overwhelming reason, according to people who have discussed him with the former president: He is “a stop the steal guy,” as one of the people described him. He endorses Mr. Trump’s false claims about mass voter fraud and Mr. Trump believes he did a good job delivering North Carolina, a 2020 swing state, to him.
The news comes just days after RedState's latest report on frivolous spending and misplaced priorities rocked the RNC's winter meeting in Las Vegas.
NEW — I got an exclusive first look at @jenvanlaar's new report on the RNC's lavish spending on limos, consultants, flowers, and office supplies while skimping on GOTV, data, and state parties:
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 1, 2024
Floral Arrangements:
RNC - $70,328.00
DNC - $795
Consultants:
RNC - $1,078,279.47… pic.twitter.com/Orl9SmZ9Xi
Sources within the meeting told RedState that McDaniel "ranted" about RedState's story and enlisted standing Budget Committee Chair Christine Toretti to send an email purporting to "debunk" RedState's reporting to the members of the 168 and members of the press.
🧵 Here we go. Memo sent by Christine Toretti, Chair of the RNC's Standing Budget Committee, to the 168 members of the RNC regarding my story. It's inaccurate and defamatory and I wasn't going to share it but since others who aren't in the 168 have shared parts of it, I am going… pic.twitter.com/d452Dzpgjh
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) February 2, 2024
That strategy failed, and by Sunday Donald Trump was hinting during interviews that McDaniel wouldn't be at the helm of the RNC much longer.
Unnamed sources, though, told the Times that McDaniel has been "considering leaving before the end of her term for some time."
Read all of Jennifer Van Laar's reporting on RNC finances under Ronna McDaniel here:
Jan 31, 2024: EXCLUSIVE: RNC Spent $1.5 Million on Floral Arrangements, Limos, Management/Media Consultants
Dec 14, 2022: EXCLUSIVE Analysis Shows RNC Spent Millions Spent on Private Jets, Limos, Luxury Retreats, Broadway Shows
Dec 17, 2022: Ronna McDaniel and RNC Budget Chair Reply to RedState Story, But Don't Address the Elephant in the Room
Dec 1, 2023: EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: In RNC Call Ronna McDaniel Ignores 2023 Election Losses, MO Committeeman Bashes RedState
Jan 25, 2024: RNC Shut Down 75 Percent of Its Hispanic Outreach Centers, Claims Money Isn't the Issue
UPDATE February 7, 2024 3:25ET
McDaniel sent an email to RNC members Wednesday morning saying that "nothing has changed and there will not be any changes decided on until after South Carolina, when we may have our eventual nominee."
🚨EXCLUSIVE: RNC Update email from Ronna McDaniel to RNC members today
— Grace Chong 🇺🇸 (@gc22gc) February 7, 2024
Bannon: “Ronna McDaniel Not Going to Leave RNC Chair Until FORCED to Leave the Premises—Anyone Telling the President Otherwise is Not Serving Him Well” pic.twitter.com/I2OQWfFa9s
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