Former Chairperson of the Republican National Committee (RNC), Ronna McDaniel, has publicly stated that Joe Biden won the 2020 US Presidential election legitimately. McDaniel made these remarks during her first appearance as an NBC News contributor on the show Meet the Press. She acknowledged Biden’s victory over Donald Trump but also mentioned there were “problems” with the election process, specifically pointing to an increase in mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania which, according to her, favored Biden.

McDaniel’s comments are significant given the continuing debate within the Republican Party about the legitimacy of the 2020 election results, with some members still expressing doubts despite substantial evidence confirming the election’s security. Furthermore, McDaniel stood by her actions in a phone call with Trump, where they allegedly exerted pressure on election officials in Michigan, a move criticized by Chuck Todd, the former moderator of Meet the Press. Todd questioned the credibility of McDaniel and NBC’s decision to employ her, which has subsequently led to internal backlash and discomfort among NBC journalists and concerns from MSNBC President Rashida Jones.

This situation underlines the persistent divisions within the Republican Party and demonstrates the challenges in dealing with issues of election integrity within a polarized political environment.