Internet unimpressed as RNC picks Donald Trump ally Michael Whatley and daughter-in-law Lara as new leaders

HOUSTON, TEXAS: The Republican National Committee (RNC) has officially elected Michael Whatley and former President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as chair and co-chair, respectively. 

The RNC officials voted in favor of ex-POTUS' handpicked team during the group's leadership meetings in Houston, Texas, on Friday, March 8, as per The Hill.

Trump endorsed his staunch supporters in mid-February to replace outgoing chair Ronna McDaniel, with whom he had been in strife, leading to her resignation after Super Tuesday.

The Trump takeover of the RNC as he looks forward to a rematch with President Joe Biden in November, together with the potential of the committee funding his mounting legal expenses, indicates his apparent control over the Republican Party.

Michael Whatley to focus on reelecting Donald Trump

Taking over the position, Whatley spoke to RNC members, promising that the organization would be "focused like a laser on getting out the vote and protecting the ballot."

"In less than eight months, we are going to determine the fate of not only the United States but of the entire world," said the former Chair of the North Carolina Republican Party.

He further stated the RNC is "going to be the vanguard of a movement that will work tirelessly, every single day to elect our nominee Donald J Trump as the 47th president of the United States, flip the Senate, expand our majority in the House of Representatives."

Whatley, a Trump loyalist, has mirrored the White House hopeful's false claims about the 2020 election being rigged. 

At the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference, he spoke about his initiatives to enlist hundreds of attorneys and volunteer poll watchers in North Carolina, raising skepticism regarding mail-in and absentee voting, insisting they should be paired by voter ID requirements.

Lara Trump to handle fundraising to ensure Donald Trump's reelection

Lara, on the other hand, will primarily focus on fundraising. In a conversation with RNC members on Friday, she emphasized the importance of fundraising, adding the committee had already received a $100,000 check.

She noted, "We've got to play the game a little bit differently. We have to encourage people to do things like early voting."

The former president's daughter-in-law had previously stated she would spend "every single penny" to ensure Trump's victory in November.

Though top Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita has denied the idea of the Republican Party covering the ex-president's legal expenses, some RNC members have reservations about the same.

Longtime RNC member Henry Barbour from Mississippi recently proposed a failed draft resolution to prevent the party from paying the presidential hopeful's legal bills. 

Trump became the potential GOP presumptive nominee after opponent Nikki Haley dropped out of the race following his dominance in the Super Tuesday primaries. He will likely cross the delegate threshold this month to be officially nominated.

Internet offers condolences to GOP as Donald Trump loyalists are elected RNC's new leaders

One wrote, "RIP Republican Party - it hasn’t been nice knowing you at all," and another added, "My condolences to the GOP. Rest in peace. You had a good run, but moving toward fascism will not work in the USA. If Joe McCathy and Roy Cohn couldn’t do it, neither will the protégé. May the bankruptcy of the GOP continue with haste." 

A person stated, "And this marked the end of down ballot hopes for Republicans!" "The attempt by some to prevent the RNC from paying his legal fees failed and now there is zero chance it will pass. Hey Republicans, nice to know there’ll be no money down ballot for your campaigns," pointed out someone else. 

One more declared, "Might as well change the name then to the losers party." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.