Trump reportedly threatened to leave the GOP and start his own party on call with RNC chair


On his final day in office, former President Donald Trump threatened to leave the Republican Party, according to a new book.
Trump made the declaration during a call with Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel on Jan. 20, ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports in his upcoming book Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show, according to ABC. During this "very unpleasant" conversation, which took place as McDaniel called to bid Trump farewell, Trump reportedly "told her he was leaving the Republican Party and would be creating his own political party," declaring, "I'm done."
In response, McDaniel reportedly told Trump he "cannot do that" because "if you do, we will lose forever," to which Trump shot back, "Exactly. You lose forever without me. I don't care." Trump, who had been fighting to overturn his 2020 election loss, reportedly proclaimed "this is what Republicans deserve for not sticking up for me." McDaniel warned Trump that if he did so, he would "ruin your legacy," but Karl reports Trump seemed quite serious about the threat.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"He was putting the party chairwoman on notice that he had decided to start his own party," Karl writes. "It was a done deal. He had made up his mind."
After the call, McDaniel reportedly informed RNC leadership about Trump's threat, and the RNC subsequently made clear that if Trump followed through on it, the party "would immediately stop paying legal bills incurred during post-election challenges," as well as "render Trump's most valuable political asset worthless," referencing his campaign email list reportedly estimated to be worth around $100 million. Days later, Trump backed down from his threat, the book says.
McDaniel denied the reporting, telling ABC, "This is false, I have never threatened President Trump with anything." Trump also denied the report, saying, "You mean I was going to form another party or something? Oh, that is bulls--t. It never happened." Read more at ABC News.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The mounting tensions between Thailand and Cambodia
Long-running border disputes are at a decade high, as protesters in Thailand demand the prime minister's resignation
-
The unravelling of 'trolls' paradise' Tattle Life
In the Spotlight Unmasking of founder sends shockwaves through toxic gossip forum
-
Sudoku medium: June 30, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Trump's strikes on Iran: a 'spectacular success'?
In Depth Military humiliations 'expose the brittleness' of Tehran's ageing regime, but risk reinforcing its commitment to its nuclear program
-
Will NATO countries meet their new spending goal?
today's big question The cost of keeping Trump happy
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible
-
Supreme Court lets states ax Planned Parenthood funds
Speed Read The court ruled that Planned Parenthood cannot sue South Carolina over the state's effort to deny it funding
-
Trump plans Iran talks, insists nuke threat gone
Speed Read 'The war is done' and 'we destroyed the nuclear,' said President Trump
-
Trump embraces NATO after budget vow, charm offensive
Speed Read The president reversed course on his longstanding skepticism of the trans-Atlantic military alliance
-
Bibi's back: what will Netanyahu do next?
Today's Big Question Riding high after a series of military victories, Israel's PM could push for peace in Gaza – or secure his own position with snap election