With Michael Whatley and Lara Trump kicking off their tenure at the cash-strapped and struggling RNC, DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd released the following statement:

“It must be demoralizing walking into your first week in a new job knowing that you’re boarding a sinking ship. So, as newly elected Trump loyalists Michael Whatley and Lara Trump start as chair and co-chair of the RNC, we wanted to send them something to raise their spirits even if it doesn’t fix their abysmal fundraising numbers. Lucky for them, this piggy bank isn’t just a great tool to teach basic fiscal responsibility – it’s also plastic, so it’ll be the last thing the Republican Party has that isn’t broken past the point of repair by November.” 

The RNC is undergoing an extreme MAGA rebrand, with Trump loyalist Michael Whatley elected to take over the RNC because of his extreme MAGA credentials. 

New York Times: “Trump’s Man at the R.N.C. Will Face Pressure to Satisfy His Election Lies”

New York Magazine: “Trump Taps Election Deniers Lara Trump, Michael Whatley to Lead RNC”

Associated Press: “In pushing Michael Whatley as the next leader of the Republican National Committee, Donald Trump zeroed in on the North Carolina GOP chairman’s dedication to ‘election integrity,’ baselessly suggesting he would ensure the 2024 race ‘can’t be stolen.’”

Associated Press: “Donald Trump wants a leadership change at the Republican National Committee in an attempt to install a new slate of loyalists — including his daughter-in-law — atop the GOP’s political machine even before the former president formally secures the party’s next presidential nomination.”

And Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara is now co-chair of the RNC… so that she can make the committee pay for his legal expenses.

ABC News: “Trump endorses daughter-in-law Lara Trump for RNC co-chair”

Politico: “Several senior Republican officials are concerned that Donald Trump’s expected takeover of the RNC will ultimately pave the way for the committee to once again cover his legal bills.”

Associated Press: “Lara Trump says she thinks GOP voters would like to see RNC pay Donald Trump’s legal fees”

The Hill: “Lara Trump says she’d spend ‘every single penny’ of RNC funds to elect father-in-law”

The RNC is in disarray after some of its worst fundraising numbers in decades headed into an election year.

Fox News: “Democrats hold vast fundraising advantage as Republicans face cash problems, disarray in crucial swing states”

“According to year-end reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) this week, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) holds nearly three times the cash on hand reported by the Republican National Committee (RNC), and brought in nearly three times as much fundraising in the final month of 2023.”

“The RNC reported its worst fundraising year since 2013 raising just $87.2 million in 2023, and starting 2024 with just over $8 million in cash on hand. If adjusted for inflation, the RNC’s fundraising was last this low in 1993 — before the 2002 McCain Feingold Act restricted political committee fundraising from corporations and capped donations from individuals.”

Washington Post: “The Republican National Committee continued to show signs of financial strain when compared with the war chest of the Democratic National Committee, reporting just $8.7 million in cash on hand to the DNC’s $24 million.”

Axios: “The Democratic National Committee also maintained its cash advantage over its Republican counterpart. The DNC raised $17.4 million in January and ended the month with $24 million in cash on hand. The Republican National Committee raised $11.6 million and closed the month with $8.7 million in cash on hand.”

Axios: “The RNC reported this week that it had its worst fundraising year in almost a decade last year — entering 2024 with just $8 million in cash. Trump’s comments are a sign of him flexing muscle as the de facto head of the GOP, even though the soonest he could clinch the nomination is March.”