Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel loves her uncle Mitt, but she had to put her job first this week and rebuke him on Twitter for writing that scathing anti-Trump op-ed in the Washington Post.
“As party chair, not as Mitt’s niece, I just wanted to point out that this is what Democrats want," McDaniel explained on "Fox & Friends" Thursday morning. "They want to see infighting with our party.”
“I think anytime Republicans are critical of this president it becomes a media feeding frenzy,” she added. “They love the anti-Trump narrative within our own party.”
So, she tried to nip it in the bud early.
POTUS is attacked and obstructed by the MSM media and Democrats 24/7. For an incoming Republican freshman senator to attack @realdonaldtrump as their first act feeds into what the Democrats and media want and is disappointing and unproductive. https://t.co/ArhI7Bi7bo
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) January 2, 2019
McDaniel said that what Republicans should be spending their efforts on is highlighting the Democrats' unhelpful political agenda. In particular, they need to tell Americans that the Democrats are the ones to blame for obstructing border security, and wanting to bankrupt the economy with ideas like Medicare for All.
“Let’s make sure we’re taking on Schumer and Pelosi that’s what we need to as Republicans because this is going to be a fight.”
Still, what about that sudden very public family squabble.
“I love my uncle,” McDaniel said. “My tweet had nothing to do with family. I would have done this to any freshman incoming senator and I would have said, 'hey let’s focus on the real issues here,' which are the Democrats who are proposing dangerous policies for our country.”
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In addition to properly condemning Democrats, McDaniel said they can also remind Americans of Trump's successes, such as his overseeing rising wages, new jobs, and the military's gains against ISIS.
“As a party, we need to come together is we’re going to be successful.”
McDaniel shared that her uncle did at least give her a "heads up" about his op-ed. She happened to be in the movie theater watching Aquaman with family when she got his message, and immediately let the president know. She said she knows that her uncle didn’t want to put her in an uncomfortable position.
"Our family fights" about politics, McDaniel noted. It's nothing new.
She also gave him a heads up that she would be publicly responding. She said he understands and told her, “you gotta do what you gotta do.”
McDaniel denied claims that he’s the new leader of the Never Trump movement and that he's planning to primary challenge Trump in 2020. His sole purpose in the Senate is "to represent the people of Utah," his niece said.
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