Washington DC:

US President-elect Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, on Saturday said she has withdrawn her name from consideration for a seat in the Senate. Ms Trump, who is married to Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump, stepped down this month as co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), fueling speculation that she might replace outgoing Florida Senator Marco Rubio

Incoming President Trump has picked Mr Rubio to serve as secretary of state. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to pick Mr Rubio’s replacement, who is expected to resign as senator when Trump takes office on January 20.

Taking to X, Lara Trump wrote that  she had decided to remove herself from consideration “after an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many.” She said she wished Florida Governor DeSantis luck in picking a replacement to serve the remainder of Mr Rubio’s six-year term ending in 2026.

“I could not have been more honoured to serve as RNC co-chair during the most high-stakes election of our lifetime and I’m truly humbled by the unbelievable support shown to me by the people of our country, and here in the great state of Florida,” she posted.

After an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the United States Senate.

I could not have been more honored to serve as RNC co-chair during the most high-stakes election of our… https://t.co/ARdvTQki9N

— Lara Trump (@LaraLeaTrump) December 21, 2024

She said she has a “big announcement” to share in January but did not provide details. Ms Trump added that she remains passionate about public service and looks forward to serving again in the future.

While noting there was already strong interest from possible candidates, DeSantis said last month that a selection would likely be made by early January.

Ms Trump, born Lara Lea Yunaska on October 12, 1982, is an American television producer, campaign advisor, and former television host. She was elected RNC co-chair in March, solidifying her father-in-law’s influence over the party as he campaigned for the presidency.

She, alongside her husband Eric Trump and brother-in-law Don Jr, emerged as one of the top campaign surrogates for the Republican candidate in the run-up to the election.

Eric Trump, the son of former US President Donald Trump, has expressed his disdain for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, suggesting his father may deport the couple, should he win the US presidential election come November. 

“You can happily have those two [Meghan and Harry] back. We’ll happily send them back from America,” Eric Trump said in an interview with GB News on Sunday. “You can have them back over here, but I’m not sure if you want them anymore. We might not want them anymore, it feels like they’re on an island of their own.”

He praised the royal family as a “beautiful” and “sacred Institute” but took a swipe at Meghan Markle’s past career as a Hollywood actress, calling her a “spoiled apple” and saying, “You can always have bad actors in everything.”

Eric Trump mentioned he held a deep admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II, adding he and his father “had so much respect” for her. He fondly recalled his father’s interactions with Queen Elizabeth during his presidency, from 2017 to 2021.

After her death in 2022, Donald Trump praised her “historic and remarkable reign” on his Truth Social platform. Eric Trump also shared a personal connection to the royal family, revealing that his late mother, Ivana Trump, “had a great relationship” with Princess Diana, Prince Harry’s mother. 

Eric Trump’s recent comments insulting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not the first time the Trump family has publicly criticised the couple. His father, Donald Trump, has been vocal about his dislike for the couple, particularly Markle, whom he has accused of being “disrespectful” to the royal family. 

In March, Trump suggested that the royal couple, who have been living in California since 2020, may need to relocate due to Harry’s admission of drug use in the US, as revealed in his memoir ‘Spare’. The former US President stated that Harry should not have “special privileges” and that “appropriate action” must be taken if he lied on his US visa application.

Previously, at the CPAC in February, Donald Trump declared that he “wouldn’t protect” Harry, calling him an “embarrassment” and stating that he “betrayed the queen”. He also predicted that Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage would “end bad” in a 2022 interview with Piers Morgan.