Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Former RNC chair and recently appointed NBC political analyst Ronna McDaniel on Sunday explained why she’s only now saying that violent Jan. 6 rioters shouldn’t be freed \u2014 a stance directly opposed to former President Donald Trump’s position.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re the RNC Chair, you kind of take one for the whole team,\u201d McDaniel said during an interview on NBC\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press,\u201d her first appearance on the network since getting the job. \u201cNow I get to be a little bit more myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump has been calling for months for the rioters<\/a>, who he describes as \u201chostages,\u201d to be freed. The former president’s first act, if reelected, would be to free them himself<\/a>, he said earlier this month. <\/p>\n McDaniel\u2019s remarks Sunday, in which she called Jan. 6 violence “unacceptable” and said “I do not think people who committed violent acts on Jan. 6 should be freed,” come after intense backlash over NBC\u2019s decision to add her to the team from both within and outside the company.<\/p>\n On Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported<\/a> that McDaniel would not be appearing on MSNBC as part of her role.<\/p>\n McDaniel departed the RNC earlier this month, after Trump criticized the organization for its decision to hold primary debates, which he refused to participate in. Trump quickly cemented his control of the organization after members formally voted to install his handpicked candidates<\/a> for top roles.<\/p>\n