Donald Trump might be costing the RNC its Hispanic staff


The RNC is reportedly bleeding Hispanic talent as prospective hires get more and more uncomfortable with the idea of working to elect Donald Trump.
Last week the RNC's Hispanic media director left to work on down ballot races because of her reportedly "increasingly awkward position defending the party and Trump." Then when Mario Lopez, the president of the Hispanic Leadership Fund, was allegedly approached about filling the role, sources told BuzzFeed he didn't see the position as a good fit. The eventual successor, Helen Aguirre-Ferre, is perhaps reluctant as well — as she has spent months criticizing Trump for his comments about Latinos.
However, the RNC denied considering Lopez for the role, saying, "No one even came close to [Aguirre-Ferre's] experience and qualifications." Lopez confirmed having a conversation with the RNC, but refused to add more details about what was discussed.
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.
Even if Lopez wasn't approached, other Hispanics are also citing Trump as a reason to either turn down RNC roles or leave the ones they currently have. One operative, Joe Culotta, bowed out of doing outreach in Florida for the RNC, saying that Trump is "a ticking timebomb."
Yet another party operative told BuzzFeed anonymously that they are also planning to leave the RNC to work on down-ballot races. "I've always supported conservative principles, but when I look at the things I align with, they do not align with Trump," they said. "We put a lot of time and hard work when it comes to this business. Early mornings, late nights, tough deadlines, stress, we sacrifice a lot — to do this for a person, for a cause I don't believe in, I can't do it."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Strava vs. Garmin: the row splitting the running community
Under The Radar The legal dispute between the two titans of exercise tech is like ‘Mom and Dad fighting’
-
Bad Bunny: Why MAGA is incensed
Feature The NFL announced Latino artist Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime headliner, sparking MAGA outrage
-
Supreme Court: Judging 20 years of Roberts
Feature Two decades after promising to “call balls and strikes,” Chief Justice John Roberts faces scrutiny for reshaping American democracy
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictions
Speed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new Mideast
Speed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland