American politics, while not typically known for its political dynasties, has seen its share of family politicians reaching the top. However, few families have captured the public’s imagination as intensely as the Trumps. Donald J. Trump, the former president seeking a third run for office this year, has dominated headlines for years, but recently, another family member has stepped into the limelight: Lara Trump. As the wife of Eric Trump and now the co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), Lara’s journey from an apolitical television producer to a pivotal figure in the GOP highlights the unpredictable nature of American politics.
Lara Trump’s rapid ascent within the Republican Party has been nothing short of meteoric. From her beginnings as a producer for “Inside Edition,” she has transformed into a formidable presence in American politics. Her new role as co-chair of the RNC places her at the helm of the party’s electoral machinery, coinciding with the Republicans’ preparations for the presidential election. This is particularly noteworthy considering all other Trumps have chosen to step out of the spotlight and the media scrutiny that comes with Donald Trump’s political persona. His wife learned this quickly after Trump became president, refusing to appear on the cover of fashion magazine Vogue. Her successor, First Lady Jill Biden, has graced the cover several times. Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, who played prominent roles during Trump’s presidency, have stepped aside and moved to Miami to escape the intense media scrutiny that was impacting their children, as Lara revealed in an interview with the New York Times. Don Jr., Eric, and Barron have also shied away from the political spotlight.
However, after a Trump aide contacted Lara in January of this year with her father-in-law’s proposal to run for the Republican Party presidency, she decided to take on the task that “scared” her most. While Lara Trump’s political journey did not begin this year, it gained momentum when Donald Trump first ran for president in 2016. Despite lacking a political background, she became an enthusiastic supporter and effective campaigner. Her articulate defense of Trump’s policies and charismatic presence made her a valuable asset to the campaign. Her transition from media to politics was swift, and by the time Donald Trump sought re-election in 2020, Lara had become a prominent surrogate.
On January 6, 2020, when thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol Hill, refusing to accept the presidential election results, Lara helped spread the former president’s claims of a rigged election. Lara and Eric were present on the stage, and Lara was one of the speakers who addressed Trump supporters before they stormed the Capitol. Four years later, Trump’s decision to appoint her as co-chair of the RNC in March 2024 was a strategic move to ensure loyalty within the party’s ranks. “When he called and talked to me initially about it, I was shocked,” Lara told the NYT in the interview, adding that encouraging phone calls from Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner helped her overcome her hesitation and accept the responsibilities of this high-profile political role.
Taking on the role of RNC co-chair was a pivotal part of Trump’s strategy for his renewed presidential bid. For Lara, it was filled with challenges. Since 2017, the Republican National Committee was led by Ronna McDaniel, who had a strained relationship with Donald Trump. McDaniel did not agree with Trump on the alleged rigged election charge. With McDaniel as the RNC head, many Trump detractors within the party gained a louder voice than he preferred. This explains Trump’s insistence on having a trusted family member in this key position, which has been viewed by some as an attempt to consolidate control over the party. Critics argued that Lara’s appointment was a clear example of nepotism. Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s former aide Rob Stutzman was quoted in US media reports as saying, “It’s not normal. It’s not healthy.”
Despite the skepticism and muted criticism, Lara Trump approached her role with determination, playing an instrumental role in fundraising efforts, helping the party raise over $280 million since March. Her influence extends beyond finances; she has also spearheaded initiatives to recruit poll watchers and promote “election integrity,” a crucial issue for Trump loyalists. Her goal is to enlist over 100,000 poll watchers in battleground states, a move designed to bolster Republican confidence in the electoral process.
Lara’s rise in the political arena has also brought her personal life into the public eye. Her relationship with Eric Trump, whom she met in New York City shortly after moving there for culinary school, has been scrutinized and often sensationalized by the media. Despite this, she has maintained a down-to-earth perspective, focusing on her family and her responsibilities. Born and raised in North Carolina, Lara comes from a socially conservative but not particularly political family. She graduated from North Carolina State University and worked odd jobs—personal trainer, bartender, waitress—for about three years before moving to New York City to attend a French culinary school. While in NYC, she met Eric in March 2008. They married six years later, in 2014, after which she moved closer to the Trump home and took the job of a producer for the television program Inside Edition.
Lara’s first encounter with serious politics came when her father-in-law ran for US president, and the family traveled to Iowa ahead of the caucuses. She became more involved in Trump’s 2020 campaign. Now, the 41-year-old mother of two is the “trusted guy” Trump was looking for to lead the Republican Party as he seeks a return to the White House.
It’s not the first time a Republican presidential nominee has chosen an aide or family member for the RNC’s top job. Presidents have often placed trusted aides within the RNC—George H.W. Bush had Lee Atwater as chair, his son George W. Bush selected Ken Mehlman. As for family members, Ronald Reagan picked his daughter Maureen Reagan to be RNC co-chair in 1987. Trump’s plan this time was to have Lara as co-chair with the loyal pro-Trump operative Michael Whatley as chair. She has now become the face of the organization.
Within days of her appointment as co-chair, Whatley and Lara removed several long-time members of the organization, replacing them with those committed to the Trump campaign. Lara, in a rare occurrence, has integrated the RNC into the Trump campaign. The party and the campaign have effectively merged. Her influence on the party is evident from the fact that at the Republican National Convention, Lara was scheduled to speak for 15 minutes, longer than seasoned Republicans. Lara is also credited with convincing Trump to drop his reservations about mail-in voting, something he blamed for his loss in the 2020 campaign. He maintained that mail-in votes were vulnerable to fraud. However, with this view failing to resonate with voters or party leaders, Lara persuaded Trump to embrace vote-by-mail, reversing his long-standing opposition to the practice. This strategic shift aims to maximize Republican voter turnout and mitigate risks associated with relying solely on Election Day voting.
While Lara remains a key figure in the Trump campaign, speculation abounds about her future role if Trump wins the presidency for a second time. The first Trump presidency saw his daughter Ivanka taking the role of advisor, where she was said to have significantly influenced US foreign policy. Whether Lara steps into Ivanka’s shoes or takes on a more substantial position remains unclear. But her rise in American politics, especially within the Republican Party, is a story not just of ambition but also of resilience. Some American commentators are already predicting that regardless of the November election outcome, someone from the Trump family will inevitably attempt to carry the MAGA (Make America Great Again) torch once Trump leaves the scene.
