According to a source familiar with the matter, lawyers for former President Donald Trump have requested that the Republican National Committee and other GOP groups stop using his name and image on fund-raising emails and merchandise without his permission.
The cease-and-desist letters were sent on Friday to the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, all of whom have used Trump in solicitations.
The RNC, for example, sent an email on Friday urging supporters to “add your name to President Trump's Official ‘Thank You' Card,” citing “how hard he's worked to improve American families.”
The former president is committed to the Republican Party and to electing conservatives in the mid-term elections of 2022, but he does not allow friends or foes to use his likeness without his express permission, according to the person.
Trump has promised to defeat the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach him in January, and he intends to elect candidates who are loyal to him and support his “America First” agenda.
However, Trump's behavior on Friday indicates he'll be assisting Republicans on his terms, and he's made it clear that any funds raised for such efforts should go to his Save America Political Action Committee and other groups under his influence.
Messages requesting comment from the RNC, NRCC, and NRSC were not immediately returned.
“There is only one way to help us elect America First Republican conservatives and, in turn, make America great again, and that is through Save America PAC and DonaldJTrump.com,” Trump said during his first public appearance since leaving the office on Feb. 28 at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
The former president is also putting together a political machine that would act as a campaign base if he decides to run for president again in 2024, like the Save America, PAC, which accepts individual contributions of up to $5,000. There are also plans for a new super PAC that will accept limitless donations.
