In a sudden turn of events, NBC News has decided to part ways with former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor, just days after her hiring was made public. This decision came after objections were raised by NBC and MSNBC journalists during on-air discussions.
The news of this development was disclosed in an email to staff by Cesar Conde, the NBCUniversal Group chairman, on Tuesday. According to NBC News, Conde stated, "There is no doubt that the last several days have been difficult for the News Group. After listening to the legitimate concerns of many of you, I have decided that Ronna McDaniel will not be an NBC News contributor."
Conde went on to express his personal apology to the team members who felt let down by the initial decision. He acknowledged that while it was a collective recommendation from some leadership members, he took full responsibility for approving it.
The announcement of McDaniel's hiring was made on Friday, shortly after her resignation from the RNC. However, network figures such as Joe Scarborough, Jen Psaki, Nicolle Wallace, and Rachel Maddow used their platforms to voice their objections to the hiring and urged the network to reconsider its stance.
NBC Faces Backlash for Hiring RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel as Contributor
During a recent broadcast, Wallace criticized NBC's decision to bring Ronna McDaniel on board, stating that it sends a message to election deniers that their views are not only tolerated on the network but also embraced. Other NBC personalities shared similar sentiments, with Maddow calling McDaniel's hiring "inexplicable" and urging the network to reconsider.
According to Maddow, there was widespread outrage among MSNBC staff following the announcement of McDaniel's hiring, leading network executives to reassess their decision. McDaniel, who previously served as the chair of the Republican National Committee, has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.
McDaniel assumed the role of RNC leader in 2017, coinciding with Trump's inauguration.
She made the decision to step down, clearing the path for Trump's hand-picked team to assume control of the RNC, as he solidified his position as the presumptive Republican nominee for president. Michael Whatley, a proponent of Trump's unfounded voter fraud claims, was elected as national chairman, while Lara Trump, Trump's daughter-in-law, was chosen as co-chair. McDaniel herself was originally chosen by Trump, but her standing among Trump's allies diminished as she was held responsible for GOP defeats in recent elections.
Following the appointment of the new leadership, layoffs were implemented at the RNC. Over 60 employees were let go as part of the organization's efforts to streamline operations and "remove duplications" between the campaign and the RNC, according to a senior Trump campaign official who spoke to CBS News earlier this month.
