JUST IN: Ronna McDaniel’s chief of staff is stepping down

Mike Reed, the chief of staff at the Republican National Committee, is set to step down later this month.

In an email obtained by Politico sent to staff on Tuesday, Reed said he wanted to focus on his "growing family [that] needs and deserves my attention."

Reed has served in his role at the RNC since January 2022.

Two people familiar with the move said that Reed’s departure has been in the works for around a year, with Reed reportedly taking a job at government relations and public affairs firm Cornerstone last fall. The people said Reed wanted to remain with the RNC through the committee’s winter meeting that took place last week in Las Vegas.

Reed noted the timing in his email, coming as 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump has pushed for changes in RNC leadership.

“I know the timing of this news comes as many rumors in the press swirl and we prepare to merge with the presumptive nominee. I assure you, the RNC is in an incredibly strong position,” Reed wrote.

Trump met with RNC head Ronna McDaniel on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago estate, writing on Truth Social after, "Ronna is now Head of the RNC, and I’ll be making a decision the day after the South Carolina Primary as to my recommendations for RNC Growth."

“We always knew there would be some changes once we had a presumptive nominee, and we welcome that,” Reed wrote. “Chairman McDaniel has had great conversations with President Trump over the last few days and weeks. She will continue to lead this organization to merge seamlessly should he be the nominee.”

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