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In a move that's sending shockwaves throughout the Connecticut MAGA community, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has elevated Connecticut GOP Chairman Ben Proto to the pivotal role of Budget Chair. Announced in a press release on October 9, 2025, the appointment praises Proto as a "longtime supporter of President Trump" and a "loyal Trump supporter.”
But for Connecticut's battle-hardened grassroots conservatives, this is no cause for celebration—it's a slap in the face, a blatant whitewash of a leader whose track record reeks of opportunism and outright disdain for the America First movement.
The RNC's glowing endorsement couldn't come at a worse time. With President Trump back in the White House pushing an aggressive agenda of fiscal restraint, border security, and economic revival, the party's national apparatus should be laser-focused on amplifying authentic voices from the states. Instead, it's rewarding insiders like Proto, whose history paints a picture of a man more interested in backroom deals than bold conservative principles. Connecticut Republicans, long sidelined in a deep-blue stronghold, deserve better. They deserve leadership that doesn't rewrite its own history to chase a promotion.
A "Loyal Trump Supporter"? Hardly.
Let's cut through the spin. Proto's elevation isn't just tone-deaf—it's dishonest. The RNC claims Proto has been a steadfast ally of President Trump for decades. Yet, digging into his public record reveals a far less flattering story. In a statewide television interview that still haunts Connecticut conservatives, Proto openly declared he "wouldn't sit down to dinner with President Trump" and didn't know "anyone who would."
This wasn't some offhand remark from a rookie activist; it was a calculated dismissal broadcast to the very voters the GOP needs to mobilize.
That clip, resurfaced amid the appointment backlash, underscores a deeper pattern. Proto has a history of distancing himself from Trump's brand during key moments, even right after the assassination attempt on Trump's life in Butler when Proto claimed in multiple interviews that Trump "regretted" saying the words "fight, fight, fight!"
As far back as 2016, when Trump stormed the nomination, Proto served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention bound to support him — but his enthusiasm was tepid at best. Fast-forward to recent years, and reports paint him as privately discouraging candidates like Matt Corey from fully embracing the MAGA mantle, all while the Connecticut GOP under his watch struggles with infighting, financial woes, and dismal electoral showings.
Now, with Trump victorious and the party poised for a revival, Proto's sudden pivot to "loyal supporter" status feels like classic political chicanery. Critics aren't buying it. "Ben Proto is everything wrong with CT; he’s a total failure who’s driven party participation, policy, and SPIRIT into the ground," blasted Connecticut congressional candidate Daniel Miressi on X.
Another local voice, Austin Monteiro, quipped, "Sunshine 'conservative' Proto appointed as the new RNC Budget Chair? Isn’t the CTGOP broke?”
The sarcasm cuts deep because it's true: under Proto's leadership since his reelection in June 2023, the Connecticut Republican Party has lost momentum and largely failed to capitalize on national GOP gains.
This isn't sour grapes from a fringe minority.
National outlets have chronicled Connecticut's GOP as a "meltdown," with Proto's chairmanship sparking "national outrage" among Trump faithful who see his appointment as a betrayal of the base that delivered Trump's 2024 landslide.
Why This Appointment Hurts the America First Agenda
The Budget Chair isn't just a ceremonial post—it's the gatekeeper of the RNC's financial priorities, overseeing allocations that fuel everything from voter outreach to campaign ads. In an era of ballooning deficits and Trump's promised spending cuts, entrusting this role to Proto raises red flags. Will he champion fiscal conservatism, or will he steer funds toward elite favorites, sidelining the grassroots warriors who've fought tooth and nail in hostile terrain like Connecticut?
Consider the stakes: Connecticut's congressional districts remain Democrat strongholds, yet Proto's tenure has seen Republican vote shares stagnate and Democrats go unchallenged. His promotion signals to insiders that disloyalty—or at least ambivalence—toward Trump gets rewarded, not punished. It's a dangerous precedent.
Worse, this smells of the very "back-room promotions" the MAGA movement rose to dismantle. Proto's bio touts decades in GOP trenches—counsel for the Connecticut House Republicans, manager of a 1994 Senate bid, chair of local town committees. Impressive on paper, perhaps. But experience without fidelity to the MAGA voters who flipped the Senate and held the House in 2024? That's a liability, not an asset.
Grassroots Pushback: A Call to Action
Connecticut's conservatives aren't sitting idly by. Call your RNC headquarters at (202) 863-8500 and politely log your concerns. Reach out to the RNC Secretary at [email protected] and General Counsel at [email protected]. Share widely, tag @GOP and @realDonaldTrump, and amplify the message.
This isn't just about one appointment—it's about reclaiming the GOP for the people. Proto's defenders might point to his recent statements of support for Trump and JD Vance, but words are cheap when your actions scream otherwise.
As President Trump prepares to drain the swamp, the RNC must listen to the base, not anoint its enablers. Connecticut Republicans have endured enough betrayals. It's time for the national party to deliver real representation—or risk alienating the very fighters who'll carry the torch forward. The budget Proto now oversees isn't just dollars and cents; it's the soul of the Republican revival. Let's ensure it's spent wisely, on leaders who dine with Trump in spirit, if not at the table.
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Since both Whatley and Gruters were horrible choices, why should this be any different???
Gotta be kidding. Proto is straight from RINO Central and functions as a protector of the Swamp. He doesn't have a fighting bone in him. These times call for a leader with spine to face down the Marxists running the Dem party. Instead, this man who has done nothing to fortify the CT-GOP is elevated to RNC Budget Chair. The GOP is going nowhere with this move......NOWHERE.