‘War on the verge of breaking out’: Trump supporters express fury over potential new Senate GOP staff appointments
A proposed plan could disrupt the party's conventional approach to Senate races and may lead to tensions among GOP financial backers.
TroibNews 
Donald Trump’s team is concerned that the Senate GOP campaign arm and its affiliated super PAC are employing “Never Trumpers” in key positions, prompting them to prepare their own super PAC for the upcoming Senate races in 2026, as revealed by two close allies of the president-elect.
If this plan goes ahead, it could significantly disrupt the traditional strategy for Senate races and lead to considerable friction among influential GOP financial backers, as Trump's faction would oppose established donors aiming to sway competitive Senate contests. This initiative could scatter funds across various groups, potentially undermining the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), which was designed to serve as a centralized hub for Republican Senate spending.
According to an insider close to Trump, there is a “brewing war on the verge of breaking out” between Trump's supporters and traditional Senate race organizations. The source noted that the heads of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and SLF “should reflect current leadership and the future, not the past.”
The insider insisted that Trump’s allies “will set up our own SLF and compete” against the age-old super PAC affiliated with former Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, asserting, “If they don’t change how they approach SLF, we will do it for them.”
This cycle, SLF and its sister nonprofit, One Nation, have collectively spent $420 million, highlighting the need for any new group aiming to compete with them to secure substantial funding.
MAGA supporters expressed their frustrations on social media Thursday night regarding Stephen DeMaura, a former campaign adviser to Mike Pence, who is rumored to be appointed as the next executive director of the NRSC. Three sources familiar with the situation confirmed he was introduced at the NRSC event for newly elected senators as the new executive director.
As of now, neither the NRSC nor SLF has publicly confirmed the leadership for the 2026 cycle. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who endorsed Trump after challenging him in the Republican primary and is now attempting to become his running mate, was recently elected chair of the NRSC. Meanwhile, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the new Republican Senate leader who has previously shown some reluctance toward Trump, is expected to have a role in selecting SLF’s leadership.
“There are plenty of experienced managers who’ve won races that could easily run” SLF and the NRSC, the Trump ally remarked, “instead of relying on people who just move money and mentally masturbate over spreadsheets.”
Moreover, Trump’s team has expressed concerns over the possibility of longtime Republican consultant Kevin McLaughlin becoming the next president of SLF. Three individuals who spoke with McLaughlin informed PMG that he has indicated he is in the running for the position.
McLaughlin, who was the executive director of the NRSC during the 2020 election cycle, clarified to PMG that he has “had no conversation with anyone” about leading SLF. In response to Trump officials’ labeling him as a “Never Trumper,” McLaughlin pointed out his recent work with a pro-Trump super PAC in Wisconsin, Badger Values, and noted that his firm, Apex Strategies, was engaged by both Trump and Nikki Haley’s campaigns this year.
Currently, SLF is led by Steven Law, a veteran GOP operative with strong ties to donors and McConnell.
“We had a great result on election night because of our strategy, Senator Daines’ leadership of the NRSC, and President Trump’s decisive victory,” said SLF spokesperson Torunn Sinclair in a statement. “Our sole focus was winning a Senate Majority, and we’ll leave the anonymous rumor-mongering to others.”
A decision regarding the president of SLF for the 2026 cycle is still weeks away, as shared by a source familiar with the hiring process.
Another Trump world political adviser echoed concerns regarding the potential leadership of both organizations and showed support for Trump’s team establishing its rival super PAC.
“You’d think a committee that just lost four races in states Trump won and only has a couple real offensive opportunities in ‘26, also in states Trump won, would be interested in political guidance and leadership that is in tune with President Trump’s new Republican coalition,” the adviser commented, emphasizing the need to protect their majority rather than risk losing it.
The personnel managing the NRSC during the 2024 election year are being replaced, with Scott heading the new team and determining which advisers to bring onboard.
The Trump political adviser remarked that Trump’s team is “not likely to leave [Republican] anti-Trump candidates uncontested” and noted that “there’s no chance their Senate candidates can be successful without Trump voters showing up in the midterms.”
This potential hiring shift represents a considerable change from the 2024 NRSC operation under Sen. Steve Daines, who had developed a strong relationship with Trump and advocated for his preferred candidates in key races. Trump's endorsements significantly aided the NRSC in securing favored nominees in states like Montana and West Virginia.
Daines previously served as a crucial link between Trump and McConnell, despite their historical tensions.
Nathan Brand, a spokesperson for Scott, did not confirm or deny DeMaura's impending leadership of the committee but mentioned that Scott has had discussions with Trump regarding his plans. NOTUS was the first to report DeMaura's anticipated appointment. DeMaura did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“Senator Scott and President Trump have discussed hiring decisions at the NRSC, and they look forward to the incoming leadership at the committee,” Brand stated. “President Trump has committed to doing whatever it takes to not only protect the majority but to grow it.”
Details about Scott’s conversations with Trump, including timing, were not disclosed, and a spokesperson for Trump did not respond to a request for comment.
DeMaura previously oversaw Pence’s 143-day presidential campaign, maintaining a low profile throughout, seldom interacting with the press or appearing alongside Pence on the campaign trail.
His experience includes advising Carly Fiorina’s super PAC during her 2016 presidential run.
Supporters of DeMaura argue that apart from his role in managing Pence’s campaign, there isn't substantial public evidence of any opposition to Trump.
Adam Geller, who served as a pollster for Trump’s campaign in 2016 and for a pro-Trump super PAC, stressed that DeMaura is not "Never Trump" but rather "a serious operative and consultant who will be about protecting and growing President Trump's Senate majority."
However, gaining the trust of skeptics will require effort.
“A lot of senators are upset, and they're just curious: It doesn't make sense,” remarked a veteran of the NRSC in contact with Republican senators. “Trump just had this massive win and now they are bringing in this Never Trumper.”
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
If this plan goes ahead, it could significantly disrupt the traditional strategy for Senate races and lead to considerable friction among influential GOP financial backers, as Trump's faction would oppose established donors aiming to sway competitive Senate contests. This initiative could scatter funds across various groups, potentially undermining the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), which was designed to serve as a centralized hub for Republican Senate spending.
According to an insider close to Trump, there is a “brewing war on the verge of breaking out” between Trump's supporters and traditional Senate race organizations. The source noted that the heads of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and SLF “should reflect current leadership and the future, not the past.”
The insider insisted that Trump’s allies “will set up our own SLF and compete” against the age-old super PAC affiliated with former Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, asserting, “If they don’t change how they approach SLF, we will do it for them.”
This cycle, SLF and its sister nonprofit, One Nation, have collectively spent $420 million, highlighting the need for any new group aiming to compete with them to secure substantial funding.
MAGA supporters expressed their frustrations on social media Thursday night regarding Stephen DeMaura, a former campaign adviser to Mike Pence, who is rumored to be appointed as the next executive director of the NRSC. Three sources familiar with the situation confirmed he was introduced at the NRSC event for newly elected senators as the new executive director.
As of now, neither the NRSC nor SLF has publicly confirmed the leadership for the 2026 cycle. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who endorsed Trump after challenging him in the Republican primary and is now attempting to become his running mate, was recently elected chair of the NRSC. Meanwhile, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the new Republican Senate leader who has previously shown some reluctance toward Trump, is expected to have a role in selecting SLF’s leadership.
“There are plenty of experienced managers who’ve won races that could easily run” SLF and the NRSC, the Trump ally remarked, “instead of relying on people who just move money and mentally masturbate over spreadsheets.”
Moreover, Trump’s team has expressed concerns over the possibility of longtime Republican consultant Kevin McLaughlin becoming the next president of SLF. Three individuals who spoke with McLaughlin informed PMG that he has indicated he is in the running for the position.
McLaughlin, who was the executive director of the NRSC during the 2020 election cycle, clarified to PMG that he has “had no conversation with anyone” about leading SLF. In response to Trump officials’ labeling him as a “Never Trumper,” McLaughlin pointed out his recent work with a pro-Trump super PAC in Wisconsin, Badger Values, and noted that his firm, Apex Strategies, was engaged by both Trump and Nikki Haley’s campaigns this year.
Currently, SLF is led by Steven Law, a veteran GOP operative with strong ties to donors and McConnell.
“We had a great result on election night because of our strategy, Senator Daines’ leadership of the NRSC, and President Trump’s decisive victory,” said SLF spokesperson Torunn Sinclair in a statement. “Our sole focus was winning a Senate Majority, and we’ll leave the anonymous rumor-mongering to others.”
A decision regarding the president of SLF for the 2026 cycle is still weeks away, as shared by a source familiar with the hiring process.
Another Trump world political adviser echoed concerns regarding the potential leadership of both organizations and showed support for Trump’s team establishing its rival super PAC.
“You’d think a committee that just lost four races in states Trump won and only has a couple real offensive opportunities in ‘26, also in states Trump won, would be interested in political guidance and leadership that is in tune with President Trump’s new Republican coalition,” the adviser commented, emphasizing the need to protect their majority rather than risk losing it.
The personnel managing the NRSC during the 2024 election year are being replaced, with Scott heading the new team and determining which advisers to bring onboard.
The Trump political adviser remarked that Trump’s team is “not likely to leave [Republican] anti-Trump candidates uncontested” and noted that “there’s no chance their Senate candidates can be successful without Trump voters showing up in the midterms.”
This potential hiring shift represents a considerable change from the 2024 NRSC operation under Sen. Steve Daines, who had developed a strong relationship with Trump and advocated for his preferred candidates in key races. Trump's endorsements significantly aided the NRSC in securing favored nominees in states like Montana and West Virginia.
Daines previously served as a crucial link between Trump and McConnell, despite their historical tensions.
Nathan Brand, a spokesperson for Scott, did not confirm or deny DeMaura's impending leadership of the committee but mentioned that Scott has had discussions with Trump regarding his plans. NOTUS was the first to report DeMaura's anticipated appointment. DeMaura did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“Senator Scott and President Trump have discussed hiring decisions at the NRSC, and they look forward to the incoming leadership at the committee,” Brand stated. “President Trump has committed to doing whatever it takes to not only protect the majority but to grow it.”
Details about Scott’s conversations with Trump, including timing, were not disclosed, and a spokesperson for Trump did not respond to a request for comment.
DeMaura previously oversaw Pence’s 143-day presidential campaign, maintaining a low profile throughout, seldom interacting with the press or appearing alongside Pence on the campaign trail.
His experience includes advising Carly Fiorina’s super PAC during her 2016 presidential run.
Supporters of DeMaura argue that apart from his role in managing Pence’s campaign, there isn't substantial public evidence of any opposition to Trump.
Adam Geller, who served as a pollster for Trump’s campaign in 2016 and for a pro-Trump super PAC, stressed that DeMaura is not "Never Trump" but rather "a serious operative and consultant who will be about protecting and growing President Trump's Senate majority."
However, gaining the trust of skeptics will require effort.
“A lot of senators are upset, and they're just curious: It doesn't make sense,” remarked a veteran of the NRSC in contact with Republican senators. “Trump just had this massive win and now they are bringing in this Never Trumper.”
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
