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Former President Donald Trump seeks to establish himself as the leader of the Republican party more now than ever since leaving Washington DC. However, Trump now finds himself at odds with his own fellow Republicans when the Republican National Committee defended its use of the former president’s name and likeness.
Trump previously demanded that the national Republican committees cease using his name and likeness in their fundraising campaigns. Now, the RNC defended its use of the former president’s name, citing that it has every right to use Trump’s name in fundraising appeals. RNC chief counsel J. Justin Riemer sent a letter to Trump’s attorney Alex Cannon Monday, saying that the committee has every right to refer to public figures like the former president when engaging in political speech that is also protected by the First Amendment.
However, Riemer also noted that during the weekend, Trump had given RNC chair Ronna McDaniel his approval in the RNC using his name and likeness in fundraising and in other materials, including those needed for an upcoming donor retreat at Palm Beach in Florida.
The former president later responded with a statement casting doubt onto the claims. “No more money for RINOS. They do nothing for the Republican Party and our great voting base -- they will never lead us to Greatness,” said Trump, referencing those he called Republican in name only. The former president then urged his supporters to donate to his Save America PAC instead of the RNC and its other affiliated Republican organizations.
“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,” said the former president.
Trump is facing increasing legal troubles since leaving Washington and even more since the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. A pro-Trump mob stormed inside to derail the formal counting of electoral votes. Five people were killed in the riots. MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell noted that Trump is already being sued by two members of Congress, Representatives Eric Swalwell and Bennie Thompson, for his role in the insurrection. However, O’Donnell also posed the question of who among the rioters that were detained by the FBI would decide to file a lawsuit against the former president.
