RNC Chair Whatley sidesteps question on if 2020 election was stolen

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Whatley appeared to sidestep questions over whether the 2020 election was stolen, instead turning his focus to ensuring election integrity in this cycle.

NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday” anchor Chris Stirewalt, in an interview with Whatley, referenced reports from last month that the RNC was asking potential rehires if the 2020 election was stolen.

Asked if he could confirm these reports, Whatley said, “Look, the only litmus test I have is, ‘Do you support President Trump and the rest of our Republican nominees?’ and, ‘Will you work 24/7 for the next seven months to make sure that we win this election cycle?'”

Stirewalt then asked Whatley what his answer would be if asked if the 2020 election was stolen.

“I think there were irregularities. I think there were issues that we saw across the country. We need to have election integrity. This is about making sure that we have the rules of the road in place in 2024,” Whatley said. “So that we do not have drop boxes, for example, that we have voter ID, for example, that absentee ballots have to have a witness signature, have to have a signature by the voter.”

Whatley claimed these election precautions are supported by the “vast majority” of Americans.

Stirewalt then pressed again and asked if the 2020 election vote count was “accurately counted” or “rigged,” to which Whatley pointed to his vote for former President Trump.

“Look, I was a member of the Electoral College. I proudly cast my vote for Donald Trump, the Electoral College number came back,” he answered. “Joe Biden is the president and we are working all day, every day now to make sure that we’re going to win this election in 2024.”

Whatley has made election integrity a large focus of his newly elected post. In a recent interview with radio talk show host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM’s “Cats Roundtable,” the committee will ensure they are “going to be in the room” when the early votes are cast and counted in November.

Whatley, who was endorsed by Trump, was elected by the committee last month as part of a radical overhaul by the former president and his allies. Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of the former president, was also elected at the time to serve as co-chair of the committee.

NewsNation is a cable news channel owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

Story updated 12:28 p.m. EDT

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.