Lara Trump
- Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC)
- Age: 41 years old
- Originally from Wilmington, North Carolina
Why are we talking about it
Eric’s wife, Donald Trump’s third child, became co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) in March, and was therefore the hostess of the convention in Milwaukee.
For about 20 minutes Tuesday night, Lara Trump spoke about her stepfather, a “wonderful grandfather” to her children, ages 4 and 6.
In a campaign where the presence of the former president’s wife, Melania, and his eldest daughter, Ivanka, has been very rare, Lara Trump has become the most visible female face of the family.
“Ivanka has stepped back from the family’s public activities since January 6, 2021,” says Seth Masket, a political science professor at the University of Denver who thinks she could have been the first choice at the RNC. “Lara is more of a public figure than the two sons, who are more aggressive,” he adds.
Course
Born Lara Yunaska, the 40-year-old grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, in a conservative family. She earned a degree in communications from North Carolina State University. Culinary studies took her to New York City, where she met Eric Trump in 2008. The couple married in 2014.
Before being immersed in the political world, Mme Trump was a television producer. After her father-in-law was elected, she became a commentator on Fox News and then on her own website, The Right View.
Her father-in-law reportedly noticed her resilience on her wedding day. The young woman had broken her wrists in a horse riding accident, but refused to wear casts for the big day. “She’s strong,” Donald Trump reportedly said.
Turning point
A television interview Lara Trump gave in the fall of 2016 impressed her father-in-law. She was called upon to help out in her home state, which Donald Trump won.
At the same time, a controversy over his father-in-law’s treatment of women was rocking the countryside.me Trump took to the road in a pink bus to speak to women voters.
The former president pushed her toward a formal commitment to the RNC in March.
The co-chair’s role includes organizing the convention, coordinating election campaigns and raising funds.
She is involved in an initiative to recruit 100,000 volunteers in key states to monitor elections, called “Protect the Vote.”
Controversies
Like other staunch supporters of Donald Trump, Lara Trump publicly defends the – unfounded – allegations of electoral fraud against her father-in-law.
Recently, she suggested that RNC funds could be used to pay Mr. Trump’s personal legal bills, raising the ire of Republicans. Trump campaign officials have denied that would be the case.
Since the arrival of Mme Trump at the RNC and Chairman Michael Whatley, the organization laid off dozens of employees, citing an efficiency effort.
His appointment is not the first of someone close to the presidential candidate to the post, Masket notes. “But it is symbolic of a party that is now a Trump organization,” he believes.
Feats of arms
Since joining the RNC, the organization has raised more than $280 million.
According to Timewho interviewed Lara Trump for a recently published profile, her influence with her father-in-law is said to have helped her convince Donald Trump to encourage mail-in voting, a method the former president has denounced as a source of fraud. She herself has previously questioned the counting of mail-in votes when they arrive after Election Day.
The Republican National Convention brought together people from different backgrounds on stage, former critics showing solidarity. “I think she deserves credit for putting that together,” Masket said.
With the Washington PostTHE New York Times, TimeAssociated Press