RNC Co-Chair Lara Trump Insists the Committee Is ‘Not Paying Any Legal Bills’ for the Former President

MACCALLUM: “You have a new role as co-chair of the Republican National Committee. There’s been a lot of discussion about fundraising and how the DNC has brought in a lot more money than the RNC, and a report in The New York Times that Republicans closed several minority outreach centers in battleground states more than a year ago — you, of course, weren’t there at the time — and didn’t retain the minority media outreach directors. So, what do you say about those reports? How significant do you think these minority outreach centers are? Do you think you need them or you don’t need them based on what you’re seeing out there? What’s the plan?”

L. Trump: “Yeah, well, actually, we are keeping those all open. I can report that today. So that is incorrect. And I think it’s very important. As I just said, doesn’t matter who you are in this country, everybody understands what’s at stake, I think, in this upcoming election. And it is minority communities that have been significantly impacted by the bad policies of Joe Biden. As you just read, Martha, you had 8 percent black vote for Donald Trump in 2016. And right now he’s polling at around 23 percent. That is huge. And that is very detrimental to the Democrats. And it’s something we’re paying close attention to, I can assure you, at the RNC and at the Trump campaign. This is a wide open tent. And the idea that this is a party closed off to anyone is false. We want everyone to come in, we want everyone to vote because we want everyone in this country to succeed. So those reports are not correct.”

MACCALLUM: “Okay. Thank you for clearing that up. So let’s take a look at this from Jamie Harrison, who is the chair of the DNC. Here’s what he had to say.”

[Clip starts]

HARRISON: “As they say, the RNC is down bad. They’re taking out lines of credit, laying off staff. And they can’t even afford to spend money on their races down ballot. But, but, this is the good thing: they are paying Donald Trump’s legal bills. So as I said, with you earlier, man, go, Lara, go! Girl, you are doing it. You are knocking it out of the park. Keep doing it.”

[Clip ends]

MACCALLUM: “What’s your response to that, Lara?”

L. Trump: “That’s very cute. We’re not paying any legal bills from the RNC. And, actually, this weekend, I personally had $2.7 million pledged to me. It was our largest digital fundraising weekend since 2020. So, we’re getting to work. And while things may be changing at the RNC, they’re changing rapidly. And one of the things that’s changing is going to be our fundraising. So they can sit back and watch and I can promise you we are paying attention, not just to the top of the ballot, but all the down-ballot races as well.”

MACCALLUM: “Well, I know the folks on those down-ballot races are very interested in support from the RNC. We’ll hopefully continue this conversation because I want to talk to you about voting and what you’re doing in that area as well next time we have an opportunity to talk. So thank you very much, Lara. Good to see you.”

L. Trump: “Thanks, Martha.”