Trump says he 'fully supports Republican Party' but won't let 'RINOS and fools' raise money using his name
Former President Donald J. Trump once again called for his supporters to donate to his leadership PAC instead of the GOP as tensions grow over the party's use of his name and likeness in its fundraising.
The 45th POTUS slammed "RINOS and fools" in a statement put out by his Save America PAC, albeit he clarified that he supports the Republican Party as a whole. This comes as the latest escalation in the fundraising feud that broke out over the weekend, The Hill reported.
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“I fully support the Republican Party and important GOP Committees, but I do not support RINOs and fools, and it is not their right to use my likeness or image to raise funds,” Trump said, using the acronym for 'Republicans in name only.'
“So much money is being raised and completely wasted by people that do not have the GOP’s best interests in mind. If you donate to our Save America PAC at DonaldJTrump.com, you are helping the America First movement and doing it right. We will WIN, and we will WIN BIG! Our Country is being destroyed by the Democrats!” he added.
The statement made it clear that Trump had no intention of reconciling with the Republican National Committee (RNC) after it appeared to snub a cease-and-desist letter from his legal team demanding that it stop using Trump's name and likeness in its fundraising or merchandising efforts.
According to Trump, similar letters were sent to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). It's worth noting that NRSC, NRCC, and RNC are the largest fundraising bodies for the GOP and had recently launched fundraising campaigns citing the former president.
“President Trump will ALWAYS stand up for the American People, and I just thought of the perfect way for you to show that you support him!” one email from the RNC read. “As one of President Trump’s MOST LOYAL supporters, I think that YOU, deserve the great honor of adding your name to the Official Trump ‘Thank You’ Card.”
Trump has assumed the role of Republican kingmaker owing to his popularity within the party despite leaving the office. He has announced support for lawmakers who backed his presidency against those who opposed him. According to The Hill, Trump's endorsement remains "highly coveted" by Republicans aspiring to win elections across the country.
However, the ongoing feud could hurt the GOP's chances of winning back Congress in the midterms, especially since the party needs to flip only five seats in the House and one seat in the Senate to win back both chambers.
The three Republican bodies appeared to reconcile with Trump after his Tuesday evening statement, suggesting they were looking forward to working with him in the lead-up to the 2022 midterms.
"The RNC, NRSC, and NRCC are grateful for President Trump's support, both past, and future," RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, NRSC Chair Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and NRCC Chair Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) said in a joint statement. "Through his powerful agenda, we were able to break fundraising records and elect Republicans up and down the ballot. Together, we look forward to working with President Trump to retake our Congressional majorities and deliver results for the American people," they added.
