Ronna McDaniel’s political exile didn’t last long. After a humiliating ouster from NBC News, the former RNC chairwoman has dusted herself off and landed at the helm of Michigan Forward Network, a new conservative nonprofit. It’s a comeback that screams desperation.
The Daily Caller reported that McDaniel, who resigned as RNC chair in February 2024, now leads a DeVos-funded group aiming to steer Michigan toward conservative policies. Her brief stint as an NBC contributor ended in March 2024 after network backlash, proving that even corporate media has its limits for tolerating dissent.
Her RNC tenure began in 2016, thanks to President Trump’s backing. But the party’s losses in three elections before 2022, coupled with the fizzling of the 2022 “red wave,” turned her into a lightning rod for GOP frustration. Her repeated failures led to Republicans demanding her head.
Trump, the GOP’s 2024 frontrunner, wasn’t shy about wanting McDaniel gone.
In a February 2024 Fox News interview, he hinted at “changes” coming to the RNC. Sure enough, McDaniel met with him at Mar-a-Lago that month and announced her resignation soon after.
“Changes [will be] made,” Trump declared, and he wasn’t wrong. McDaniel’s exit was less a graceful departure and more a survival tactic. The GOP base, fed up with establishment missteps, cheered her removal.
After leaving the RNC, McDaniel vanished from the spotlight—until NBC News came calling. Hired as a contributor in March 2024, she debuted on “Meet the Press,” only to face a revolt from network staff. MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski urged NBC to “reconsider its decision,” and the backlash was swift.
NBC employees, including Joe Scarborough, “strongly objected” to McDaniel’s hiring over her 2020 election remarks.
The network caved, terminating her contract almost immediately. Actions have consequences, and NBC’s attempt to play both sides blew up spectacularly.
Cesar Conde, NBCUniversal Group’s chairman, admitted he’d “let them down” in a groveling apology to staff. Meanwhile, Trump took to Truth Social on March 26, 2024, mocking McDaniel’s exit as a trip to “never Neverland.” Ouch—talk about kicking someone when they’re down.
McDaniel, licking her wounds, stayed quiet until the Wall Street Journal reported her new gig on May 29, 2025. The Michigan Forward Network, bankrolled by the DeVos family, is her chance to rebuild. But can she deliver where she faltered before?
McDaniel credits Trump’s 2024 Michigan victory as her inspiration. “President Trump’s historic victory last year showed that Michiganders are sick of extreme policies,” she said. It’s a bold claim, but Michigan’s swing-state status makes it a tough proving ground.
“Michiganders are sick of extreme policies that have made our communities unsafe,” McDaniel added, doubling down on her conservative vision. Her new nonprofit aims to capitalize on that sentiment. Whether it’s a genuine mission or a political lifeline, only time will tell.
The DeVos family’s deep pockets give McDaniel a fighting chance to reshape Michigan’s political landscape. But her RNC track record—marred by electoral disappointments—looms large. Skeptics might wonder if she’s the right pick for the job.
McDaniel’s return to politics is a calculated move. After the NBC debacle, she’s betting on Michigan’s conservative wave to restore her credibility. It’s a high-stakes gamble for someone who’s already been burned.
Her critics, especially within the GOP, won’t forget her past failures. Yet, her alignment with Trump’s agenda could win over MAGA loyalists hungry for results. The question is whether she can translate rhetoric into victories.
