The president of the Republican party Rhona McDaniel announced today that he is stepping down as leader, nine months before the presidential election, following pressure from Donald Trumpthe favorite for the party’s nomination.

This development reflects the former president’s influence on the party, as it prepares for a possible “rematch” with the Democratic rival Joe Bidenon November 5.

After meeting with McDaniel in early February, Trump wrote on social media that he would push for changes at the Republican National Committee (RNC) after the primaries in South Carolina, which were held last Saturday. Trump won this caucus handily, although his opponent, the Nikki Haleywas formerly the governor of this state.

Two weeks ago, Trump offered his support to Michael Whatley, the chairman of the Republican party in North Carolina, for the chair of the RNC, with his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, wife of his son, Eric, as co-chair. Whatley was among those who adopted Trump’s false claims of fraud in the 2020 election, according to a CNN report.

“The RNC has historically been subject to change when we have had a candidate, and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition. I remain committed to the goal of winning back the White House and electing Republicans in the November election,” McDaniel said in her statement. She also thanked Trump and clarified that her resignation would take effect at the RNC’s spring meeting on March 8, three days after the “Super Tuesday” primaries. in 15 US States. At the same time, her RNC co-chair Drew McKissick will also step down.

The RNC plays an important role in raising money for the presidential candidate, promoting the party’s message, raising other resources and attracting voters. Whoever replaces McDaniel will take on the difficult task of uniting a divided party.

McDaniel was re-elected last year as RNC chair to a fourth two-year term. But some Republicans have criticized her, particularly for the party’s performance in the election. Trump was defeated in the 2020 presidential election and the party underperformed in the 2022 midterm elections. Voices against her intensified this month when it was revealed that in late December the RNC had just $8 million in cash—the lowest level in a decade—and that the Democratic National Committee raised more resources than the Republicans.

As Trump tries to consolidate his hold on the party leadership, an RNC member has filed motions that would bar the party from paying the former president’s legal fees. Trump faces four criminal lawsuits and two civil lawsuits that have resulted in fines and restitution of about $540 million. Lara Trump, when asked last week whether the RNC should pay her father-in-law’s fines, didn’t rule it out.

Trump had endorsed McDaniel, the niece of his staunch critic and former (2012) presidential candidate Mitt Romney, for the RNC chair after she helped, in the 2016 presidential primary, win the Michigan State, her hometown. Until then, McDaniel used her full name, Ronna Romney McDaniel, but after receiving Trump’s endorsement, she dropped her uncle’s last name. Many media outlets claimed that this was done at Trump’s request.

THE Mitt Romneynow a senator from Utah, denounced Trump as a “liar and a fraud” in a blistering speech in March 2016 when he urged Republicans to reject the businessman who was then running for their party’s nomination.