RNC taps ex-Trump staffer 'to watch the money': report

One day after former President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, officially became co-chair of the Republican National Committee alongside North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Watley — the committee has named former Trump deputy assistant Sean Cairncross to manage the organization's finances, according to an exclusive Axios report.

Cairncross' appointment comes as Lara Trump — who's the wife of Eric Trump — has floated the idea of using RNC donors' contributions to pay for her father-in-law's half $1 billion in legal bills.

However, Axios notes The Associated Press reported last month that the MAGA hopeful's campaign "said that it will not use RNC funding to pay Trump's considerable legal bills."

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A top Trump advisor told the news outlet that "Cairncross is a lawyer with a reputation of enforcing financial discipline — someone who can 'watch the money.'"

Forbes notes last year, two Trump-affiliated "super PACs used approximately $55 million in donor funds to pay his attorneys," and that "Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita said that the campaign's primary 'mission' in 2024 was to 'maximize the Republican Party’s resources to get President Trump elected.'"

Axios notes, "The RNC faces a financial disadvantage compared to the Democratic National Committee after the RNC's fundraising difficulties last year."

Axios' full report is available here.