A 'MAGA mutiny' is 'causing chaos' for RNC

It isn't hard to understand why Republican National Committee Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel quit using "Romney" in RNC correspondence.

Her uncle is Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), whose outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump has infuriated far-right MAGA Republicans. And McDaniel obviously didn't want to remind fellow Republicans that she is a member of the Romney family — especially in light of "War Room" host Steve Bannon, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and other prominent MAGA figures pushing for her to be ousted as RNC chair.

In an opinion column published on January 31, MSNBC's Ja'han Jones describes the "MAGA mutiny" that is "causing chaos" for McDaniel at the RNC.

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The right-wing Washington Times, on January 26, published an article on the RNC's fundraising woes — and Jones finds the article's timing "curious" in light of the fact that it came "just ahead" of a Turning Point USA gathering in Las Vegas that was billed as a chance to "hold the RNC accountable."

"Charlie Kirk, one of the founders of Turning Point, was among those who opposed McDaniel's reelection in 2023, and his group's conference seemed to have a similar goal of making her life difficult," Jones explains. "It certainly platformed people, like Lindell and Trump adviser Steve Bannon, who have been deeply critical of her."

Jones continues, "McDaniel even theorized, back in 2022, that Kirk and Turning Point want to 'take over the RNC.' By the look of things, it's hard to disagree. But this week, the MAGA movement's pressure on McDaniel hasn't been confined to Kirk's conference."

The MSNBC columnist notes that far-right MAGA Republican Laura Loomer tweeted, on January 29, that a "grassroots ambush" was awaiting McDaniel at the RNC's winter meeting in Las Vegas.

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"Loomer is a conspiracy theorist and self-described Islamophobe, so take her statements with a grain of salt," Jones argues. "But she does seem to be part of a growing chorus of criticism that McDaniel is facing — the MAGA mutiny lives on, evidently. That's not ideal for a political party under any circumstance, and certainly not in an election year."

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Ja'han Jones' full MSNBC column is available at this link.