Former President Donald Trump‘s newly installed Republican National Committee leadership has initiated a significant staffing shake-up, dismissing as many as 60 staffers.
The changes followed the leadership transition from former chair Ronna McDaniel to chair Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law.
The abrupt dismissals have raised concerns among some Republicans about potential repercussions for the party. Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger criticized the RNC’s decision, suggesting that it could harm down-ballot races and attributing the move to the party’s capitulation to Trump.
Progressive commentator Lindsay Beyerstein also expressed concern, suggesting that the RNC’s focus on supporting Trump’s legal bills could deter big donors and ultimately cost the Republicans control of the House.
Meanwhile, former GOP operative Rick Wilson blamed Trump directly for the firings, highlighting a pattern where everything associated with Trump seems to fail.
However, not all reactions were negative. Some MAGA supporters, like Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, celebrated the staff changes, viewing them as necessary to eliminate anti-Trump elements within the party.
The RNC’s restructuring under Trump’s influence has underscored the deepening divide within the Republican Party, with loyalists supporting the changes as necessary for victory, while critics fear the move could have negative consequences for the party’s electoral prospects.