Trump backs RNC chair Joe Gruters for reelection after Republicans' midterm losses

President Trump on Friday formally backed Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Joe Gruters's bid for reelection. The endorsement came after what The Hill called the party's widespread losses in Tuesday's midterm elections ¹. The RNC is the party's national organization, which raises money and runs campaign operations.

Trump announced his support in a post on Truth Social, his social media site. He called Gruters "100 [percent] America First" and noted the party's grassroots love him, The Hill reported ¹.

As Chairman, Joe turned the RNC into an efficient, focused, and powerful machine that will continue to empower the America First Agenda for many years to come

A challenge from inside Trump's circle

The endorsement follows an announcement from RNC co-Chair K.C. Crosbie, another Trump ally. She said she will challenge Gruters for the top job in January ¹.

Crosbie laid out her case in a letter. She wrote that Republicans "owe ourselves an honest account of why" they lost ¹. She said voters were focused on the cost of living and the direction of the country. In her view, the party's improvements in field operations, voter contact and election integrity did not address those concerns ¹.

From Channel GOPTrump has no evidence, calls Welker crooked, quitsDonald Trump · 196 plays · captioned, with the source named

Tuesday’s results were a serious setback.

Gruters has led the RNC for a little over a year. He was elected chair on Aug. 22, 2025, at the party's summer meeting in Atlanta. He ran unopposed, with Trump's endorsement, to replace Michael Whatley, who was running for the Senate in North Carolina ².

What the losses look like

Democrats won key battleground states, flipped a number of red states and gained majorities in state legislatures, The Hill reported ¹. As of Friday, Democrats held a 54-44 Senate majority and led 253-158 in the House, according to Decision Desk HQ, The Hill's data partner ¹. Some races remain uncounted.

Trump's statement did not mention the election results. It described Gruters as having turned the RNC into a powerful machine ¹.

What happens next

The chairman's race is set for January, when Crosbie has said she will challenge Gruters ¹. The Hill's report does not say who will vote or whether other candidates will run. It also does not say how many party members have taken sides.

That matters because Trump is standing by the party's current leadership. This comes as Republicans argue over who is to blame for Tuesday's results. Crosbie's letter points to prices and the country's direction, not to party organization alone ¹.

The pattern is familiar. After an electoral setback, the party's top figure vouches for his own pick, and a rival from his own camp says the old approach did not work. Whether RNC members side with Trump or Crosbie will show how much weight his endorsement carries after the losses.

The Record

1. Aug 22, 2025Gruters was elected RNC chair at the party's summer meeting in Atlanta, running unopposed with Trump's endorsement ².
2. Nov 3, 2026Democrats won widespread victories in the midterm elections, according to The Hill ¹.
3. Nov 6, 2026Trump formally endorsed Gruters for reelection as RNC chair, and Crosbie said she will challenge him in January ¹.

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<h2>Trump backs RNC chair Joe Gruters for reelection after Republicans&#39; midterm losses</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-backs-rnc-chair-joe-gruters-for-reelection-after-republicans-midterm-losses">The GOP Files</a> on Friday, November 6, 2026.</em></p> <p>President Trump on Friday formally backed Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Joe Gruters&#39;s bid for reelection. The endorsement came after what The Hill called the party&#39;s widespread losses in Tuesday&#39;s midterm elections . The RNC is the party&#39;s national organization, which raises money and runs campaign operations.</p> <p>Trump announced his support in a post on Truth Social, his social media site. He called Gruters &quot;100 [percent] America First&quot; and noted the party&#39;s grassroots love him, The Hill reported .</p> <blockquote><p>As Chairman, Joe turned the RNC into an efficient, focused, and powerful machine that will continue to empower the America First Agenda for many years to come</p><p>&mdash; Donald Trump, President, Republican</p></blockquote> <h2>A challenge from inside Trump&#39;s circle</h2> <p>The endorsement follows an announcement from RNC co-Chair K.C. Crosbie, another Trump ally. She said she will challenge Gruters for the top job in January .</p> <p>Crosbie laid out her case in a letter. She wrote that Republicans &quot;owe ourselves an honest account of why&quot; they lost . She said voters were focused on the cost of living and the direction of the country. In her view, the party&#39;s improvements in field operations, voter contact and election integrity did not address those concerns .</p> <blockquote><p>Tuesday’s results were a serious setback.</p><p>&mdash; K.C. Crosbie, RNC co-chair, Republican-Kentucky</p></blockquote> <p>Gruters has led the RNC for a little over a year. He was elected chair on Aug. 22, 2025, at the party&#39;s summer meeting in Atlanta. He ran unopposed, with Trump&#39;s endorsement, to replace Michael Whatley, who was running for the Senate in North Carolina .</p> <h2>What the losses look like</h2> <p>Democrats won key battleground states, flipped a number of red states and gained majorities in state legislatures, The Hill reported . As of Friday, Democrats held a 54-44 Senate majority and led 253-158 in the House, according to Decision Desk HQ, The Hill&#39;s data partner . Some races remain uncounted.</p> <p>Trump&#39;s statement did not mention the election results. It described Gruters as having turned the RNC into a powerful machine .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>The chairman&#39;s race is set for January, when Crosbie has said she will challenge Gruters . The Hill&#39;s report does not say who will vote or whether other candidates will run. It also does not say how many party members have taken sides.</p> <p>That matters because Trump is standing by the party&#39;s current leadership. This comes as Republicans argue over who is to blame for Tuesday&#39;s results. Crosbie&#39;s letter points to prices and the country&#39;s direction, not to party organization alone .</p> <p>The pattern is familiar. After an electoral setback, the party&#39;s top figure vouches for his own pick, and a rival from his own camp says the old approach did not work. Whether RNC members side with Trump or Crosbie will show how much weight his endorsement carries after the losses.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-backs-rnc-chair-joe-gruters-for-reelection-after-republicans-midterm-losses">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/trump-backs-rnc-chair-joe-gruters-for-reelection-after-republicans-midterm-losses.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Hill, “Trump backs Gruters's reelection bid as RNC chair” (2026-11-06). thehill.com/homenews/administration/6204698-trump-backs-grut
2. NBC News, “Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters, a longtime Trump ally, elected as RNC chair” (2025-08-22). nbcnews.com/politics/elections/florida-state-sen-joe-gruters

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