The Republican National Committee is defending its right to use former President Donald Trump's name in fundraising appeals after he demanded they put an end to the practice.
In a Monday letter to Trump attorney Alex Cannon, RNC chief counsel J. Justin Riemer said the committee 'has every right to refer to public figures as it engages in core, First Amendment-protected political speech' and said 'it will continue to do so in pursuit of these common goals.'
But he maintained that Trump had also 'reaffirmed' to the chair of the RNC, Ronna McDaniel, over the weekend 'that he approves of the RNC´s current use of his name in fundraising and other materials, including for our upcoming donor retreat event at Palm Beach at which we look forward to him participating.'
Trump responded to the letter with a statement that put that agreement in doubt. 'No more money for RINOS,' or Republican in name only, he stated. 'They do nothing but hurt the Republican Party and our great voting base - they will never lead us to Greatness.'
Donald Trump kisses Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel at the RNC's winter meeting in Washington on Feb. 1, 2018
Trump recently directed the RNC and other entities to stop using his name in their fundraising appeals
McDaniel's RNC last week sent out two emails asking supporters to donate as a way to add their name to a 'thank you' card for Trump
He instead again urged his supporters to send their contributions directly to his own Save America PAC by using his personal website, adding, 'We will bring it all back stronger than ever before!'
The flap reflects the tensions that have divided the GOP in the months since Trump left the White House. The party is eager to tap into his popularity among the Republican base to raise money ahead of next year's midterms. But that runs counter to Trump's instinct to control the use of his name and image as he aims to position himself as the undisputed leader of the GOP.
In his first major speech since leaving office, Trump urged his supporters to give their money to Save America, his political action committee, instead of the GOP's traditional fundraising organizations.
And on Friday, his group sent letters to the RNC and others asking them to 'immediately cease and desist the unauthorized use of President Donald J. Trump´s name, image, and/or likeness in all fundraising, persuasion, and/or issue speech,' according to the RNC letter.
On Friday, the RNC had sent out two emails asking supporters to donate as a way to add their name to a 'thank you' card for Trump. The umbrella group supports GOP candidates across the country.
Trump and McDaniel in happier times in Washington on Feb. 1, 2018
Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Feb. 28, in Orlando, Fla. He used his speech to call out Republicans who didn't support him through his impeachment crisis
The House and Senate Republican campaign committees and a Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The RNC and Trump's campaign worked hand-in-hand during the 2020 election, including raising money through a joint fundraising committee. And ties between them remain.
Trump is scheduled to speak at the RNC´s spring donor retreat in April in Palm Beach, Florida, and has told McDaniel that he wants to continue raising money for the RNC even as he amasses cash for his own pursuits. That includes exacting revenge by backing challengers to Republican incumbents who crossed him by voting to impeach him for inciting the Capitol riot.
Despite the letters, the RNC and others have continued to fundraise off of Trump's name.
'CONGRATULATIONS! You have been selected as one of the FIRST to be invited to claim your Trump Legacy Membership,' the RNC wrote in one appeal on Sunday.
'We NEED 10,000 patriots who still stand with President Trump before midnight tonight,' 'URGENT: TRUMP SUPPORTERS NEEDED,' added the National Republican Senatorial Committee Monday afternoon.
Trump has spurred fears of a GOP civil war after vowing revenge on the 17 Congressional Republicans who voted to impeach or convict him on a charge of inciting insurrection.
Trump called them all out by name during his Sunday appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, telling the audience, 'Get rid of them all!'
Politico Playbook reported Friday that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has specifically asked Trump not to go after the 10 House Republicans who voted in favor of his second impeachment in January.
The ex-president's threat will likely lead to a series of MAGA-versus-moderate GOP primaries, and could cost McCarthy the chance to retake the House, which historically is in his grasp.
On Thursday Trump signaled that he's going to go forward with the so-called GOP civil war, as he issued another statement from Mar-a-Lago blasting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Trump accused McConnell of blowing two elections in Georgia that cost Republicans the Senate majority.
In his statement, Trump slammed McConnell for yielding to his caucus and supporting $600 checks for Americans, rather than the $2,000 Trump backed late in negotiations of the December COVID stimulus bill – and ripped a Senate GOP group for its Georgia effort.
'Even more stupidly, the National Republican Senatorial Committee spent millions of dollars on ineffective TV ads starring Mitch McConnell, the most unpopular politician in the country, who only won in Kentucky because President Trump endorsed him. He would have lost badly without this endorsement,' Trump claimed.
At CPAC, Trump also went after McConnell - and every senator who voted for his conviction.
'The Democrats don't have grandstanders like Mitt Romney, Little Ben Sasse, Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Toomey. And in the House, Tom Rice, South Carolina, Adam Kinzinger, Dan Newhouse, Anthony Gonzalez, that's another beauty. Fred Upton, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Peter Meijer, John Katko, David Valadao and of course, the warmonger, the person that loves seeing our troops fighting, Liz Cheney. How about that?' Trump said.
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