In another battle in the Republican Party’s civil war, the Republican National Committee sought to downplay any split among the party over its presidential nominee, holding an emergency conference call with its party members to tell them that the party stands with Donald Trump
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus assured the party’s 168 members that “nothing has changed” in their support of Trump. He said that the RNC and the Trump campaign are working well together and are completely coordinated, adding that Trump top officials had volunteered to also join the call in a show of unity.
"I want to make it very clear that the RNC is in full coordination with the Trump campaign and we have a great relationship with them," Priebus said told the members in the call, according to audio of the call obtained by NBC News. "Nothing has changed in regards to our relationship and we remain very much involved and together in all levels in making these decisions of how best to run the operation across the country."
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The call comes at the end of a long weekend where the Republican nominee saw mass defections among Republican leaders and members of Congress after a leaked video tape revealed his vulgar talk about women.
Widening the split in the party, House Speaker Paul Ryan told the Republican conference in the House Monday morning that he will focus his efforts on electing Republicans down the ballot, a major slap in the face to Trump.
Related: Paul Ryan Said He Won't Defend Trump
On Monday, Priebus reaffirmed his support of Trump and said that "no such mechanisms exist" to remove Trump from the ticket, but added that it would be "impractical" even if it did exist.
He attempted to reassure members who had started to raise concerns and ask questions about where the RNC stood in relation to its nominee.
"So everything is on course, and I want you to understand that," Priebus said.
An informal email campaign emerged Sunday by RNC members to seek answers from a silent RNC leadership and to pressure them to stand by their man. In response, one hour after the second presidential debate ended Sunday night, Priebus sent a memo to committee members notifying of the meeting to take place Monday.
In the 14 minute call that did not allow for questions from its members, Priebus addressed reports that the party was dropping its support of Trump by halting its Victory program, which involves phone calls and door knocks to voters, saying that reports were not true.
As for the expensive direct mail program, Priebus said there was never an intention to permanently halt it, but that they "put a hold on this mail project for 24 to 48 hours" until they were "fully committed" on messaging. He said they wanted to wait until after the debate to help decide how to move forward on the message, failing to note that it was an unannounced halt after the damaging tape dropped Friday.
Additionally, Priebus did not reveal what the messaging moving forward would be and efforts to find out if the message would be pro-Trump or a less enthusiastic anti-Hillary Clinton message have left unreturned.
Committee member from Oregon Solomon Yue, a member who had raised concerns about if the RNC was going to stand by Trump, said he’s pleased with Priebus’ message.
“I feel really good,” Yue said. “I think all members are satisfied.”
