A draft resolution currently under review by the Republican National Committee (RNC) could potentially declare former President Donald Trump as the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee for the 2024 presidential race. This move, unprecedented in the party’s history, could significantly alter the dynamics of the nomination process.
The resolution was proposed by David Bossie, an RNC committeeman from Maryland and a recent Trump endorser. The Dispatch first reported the resolution, and a draft copy was independently obtained by CNN.
“RESOLVED that the Republican National Committee hereby declares President Trump as our presumptive 2024 nominee for the office of President of the United States and from this moment forward moves into full general election mode welcoming supporters of all candidates as valued members of Team Trump 2024,” the resolution reads.
If approved, the resolution would grant Trump access to the RNC’s data operation, fundraising benefits, and the support of the committee’s ground operations. This would effectively position the committee in support of Trump and against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, marking a significant departure from the party’s traditional approach to the nominating process.
The Haley campaign dismissed the resolution, suggesting that the party’s nominee should be decided by Republican voters nationwide rather than Washington insiders. They also called on GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to organize a debate ahead of the South Carolina primary at the end of February.
“Who cares what the RNC says? We’ll let millions of Republican voters across the country decide who should be our party’s nominee, not a bunch of Washington insiders,” Haley spokeswoman Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a statement. “If Ronna McDaniel wants to be helpful she can organize a debate in South Carolina, unless she’s also worried that Trump can’t handle being on the stage for 90 minutes with Nikki Haley.”
The resolution follows Trump’s recent victories over Haley in New Hampshire and the Iowa caucuses, which have led many prominent Republicans to rally around Trump and urge Haley to withdraw from the race. McDaniel earlier this week told Fox News, “We need to unite around our eventual nominee, which is Donald Trump.”
The resolution could be considered at the RNC’s winter meeting in Las Vegas next week. Current RNC rules require Trump to secure 1,215 delegates to officially become the party’s nominee. As of Thursday, CNN estimates Trump has 32 delegates while Haley has 17.
Some RNC members discussed the resolution during a conference call on Wednesday night, according to a Republican with knowledge of the call.