The RNC chairman is stepping down. Trump wants a Florida Republican to step in

Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald on Jul 24, 2025

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Amid news that the chairman of the Republican National Committee is stepping down, President Donald Trump on Thursday encouraged Republicans around the country to rally behind a Florida lawmaker as his replacement.

Posting on his social media site, Truth Social, Trump said Florida Sen. Joe Gruters, from Sarasota, “will do a wonderful job” as the chairman of the Republican Party.

Gruters, 48, confirmed in a text message that he wants the job.

“I’m looking forward to advancing President Trump’s America First agenda as the next Chair of the RNC,” Gruters wrote in a text message to the Miami Herald. “He is the greatest President in our nation’s history, and I’m ready to serve, fight, and win for our party and our country.”

Trump made the comment at the end of a post about current RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, who is expected to step down from his position to seek a soon-to-be-open seat in the U.S. Senate representing North Carolina. Trump said Whatley has his endorsement for the Senate seat should he run.

Gruters, a former Florida GOP chairman, has been a longtime supporter and friend of Trump’s. He was co-chair of the president’s 2016 campaign in Florida, and got a look from the president last year when then-RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel was on her way out.

Gruters has been campaigning for the post of Florida chief financial officer, and only recently announced that two of Trump’s top political advisors would work for his campaign. He faces a competitive primary, with Gov. Ron DeSantis this month appointing former state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia to the post.

Gruters did not say whether his interest in the RNC job would affect his campaign.