What’s in a name? A Trump embraces ex-president’s approach in helping lead Republican Party

WASHINGTON (AP) — The direction of the Republican National Committee is clear from the last name of its new second-in-command: Trump.

“My No. 1 goal is making sure that Donald Trump is the 47th president,” said RNC co-chair Lara Trump in an interview with The Associated Press.

It’s one more step in solidifying Trump’s hold over the Republican Party. The daughter-in-law of the former president has wasted no time in rebranding the typically staid committee in Trump’s image, embracing her own version of his pugilistic politics and brash management style in ways that affirm his sway over the Republican establishment.

The RNC has fired dozens of longtime staffers and sought alliances with election deniers, conspiracy theorists and alt-right advocates the party had previously kept at arm’s length. Lara Trump, who is married to Trump’s third child, Eric, has been an outspoken defender of the former president and has not hesitated to blast his foes, promising four years of “scorched earth” political retribution if he wins the election. And she’s led a steep increase in fundraising, a particularly acute need for Trump’s election bid because his political fundraising operations have spent tens of millions of dollars in legal fees to defend him in criminal and civil cases.

Trump supporters say Lara Trump is breathing new life into the party, and say her charisma and dogged work ethic make her an ideal choice to serve as its champion.

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