Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel on Thursday ripped a recent New York Times opinion piece that declared GOP women are “on the brink of extinction."

"I think this is fake news," McDaniel told "Fox & Friends" co-host Ainsley Earhardt.

"They keep pushing this narrative," McDaniel said. "They ignore women that are leading way in the Republican Party."

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The Tuesday opinion piece, headlined "Republican Women Are in Crisis," was written by Dr. Nancy L. Cohen, described by the Times as an "author and historian."

Cohen argued that if President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE wins reelection, "given his unpopularity with female voters, the future for Republican women in politics looks very bleak."

Of the 126 women serving in Congress, only 21 are Republican — eight in the Senate and 13 in the House.

McDaniel pushed back on Thursday by referencing recruitment numbers for the 2020 House elections recently highlighted by Rep. Elise Stefanik Elise Marie StefanikRepublicans cast Trump as best choice for women The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Pence rips Biden as radical risk GOP women offer personal testimonials on Trump MORE (R-N.Y.).



"Elise Stefanik had a great response to this," McDaniel said. "The House has recruited 181 women to run for Congress heading into 2020. It’s a record.”