RNC rips Politico editor-in-chief over Trump tweet

The head of the Republican National Committee (RNC) ripped Politico’s co-founder and editor-in-chief on Wednesday over a tweet that implied that President Trump is a white nationalist.

{mosads}“This offensive statement from the head of Politico is another example of why distrust in the media is at an all-time high,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel wrote in response to a tweet earlier from John Harris, Politico’s co-founder and editor-in-chief.

This offensive statement from the head of Politico is another example of why distrust in the media is at an all-time high. pic.twitter.com/cdGiFiKo4S

— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) October 17, 2018

Harris had tweeted a comment while retweeting pollster Larry Sabato, who had sent out a message about an NBC News story headlined “White national leader wants to ‘take over the GOP.’”

“Thought that job was already filled,” Harris wrote in his tweet.

Thought that job had been filled….. https://t.co/35GUSXGhWU

— John F. Harris (@harrispolitico) October 17, 2018

Conservative Arthur Schwartz jumped on Harris quickly on Twitter, demanding Republicans boycott any interview requests from Politico.

“Until this guy is gone from Politico, no Republicans should take calls from or help his reporters. He’s not hiding it — this is what he thinks of us. Despicable,” Schwartz wrote.

This from the editor in chief and co-founder of @Politico. Until this guy is gone from Politico, no Republicans should take calls from or help his reporters. He’s not hiding it — this is what he thinks of us. Despicable. pic.twitter.com/f4MVWrwRNd

— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) October 17, 2018

Harris replied that Schwartz had offered a “fair point” and that he only meant to make “a quip” about the NBC News headline.

“Sometimes wisecracks get lost in Twitter translation so appreciate the chance to clarify,” Harris replied.

A Politico spokesman told The Hill that Harris was making a point about how there was no prospect of someone taking over the GOP from Trump.

Noting that Harris had already responded to Schwartz, the spokesman said: “More specifically, his point was that there is currently no prospect of anyone taking over the Republican Party from its current leader – President Trump, which most Republicans and political observers would presumably agree with.”