Former RNC Chair Predicts How Donald Trump's GOP Takeover Will End

Michael Steele, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), warned that former President Donald Trump's takeover of the GOP will end with an "implosion."

Steele, a Trump critic, issued the warning about the former president's growing influence in the Republican Party in an opinion piece published by MSNBC on Friday. Trump endorsed his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as well as North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley, to lead the RNC after The New York Times reported that chair Ronna McDaniel plans to step down from her position, citing anonymous sources.

Steele warned that allowing Trump to name McDaniel's successor will "end in an implosion about as dramatic as his failed Atlantic City casino."

He pointed to recent remarks Lara Trump made this month during a Newsmax interview, vowing that "every single penny" will go to "the number one and only job of the RNC," helping Donald Trump win the presidential election in November.

However, electing Trump is not the only job of the RNC, Steele warned, adding that focusing only on Trump's campaign would be an "atrocious investment."

"Winning the White House is always a top goal, but, as I've said before, the RNC chair has a number of other duties, he wrote.

He noted that the RNC chair is tasked with building majorities in the House and Senate, raising money for candidates, coordinating campaign messaging, developing the platform, getting voters to the polls and serving as the face of the party.

He also warned that going all-in on Trump could further recent GOP losses, pointing to Trump's defeat in 2020, the party's disappointing midterm returns and low fundraising totals at the end of 2023.

"For nearly a decade, we've seen the chaos, the division, the grifters and the conspiracy theories Trump ushered in consume the Republican Party. And now it appears this once-great party wants more of the same," Steele concluded. "So much for winning."

Newsweek reached out to Trump's campaign via email and Lara Trump via her podcast's online contact form for comment.

Trump said in a statement that he believes Lara Trump is an "extremely talented communicator and is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for."

"She has told me she wants to accept this challenge and would be GREAT!" he wrote.

RNC spokesperson Keith Schipper previously told Newsweek that any changes to the RNC will be "decided" after the South Carolina Republican presidential primary on Saturday, when Trump will face off against the state's former governor, Nikki Haley.

Steele has emerged as a key Republican Trump critic, previously calling for the former president to be thrown in jail over his repeated attacks on judges and court staff in his numerous ongoing court cases.