Former President Donald Trump’s campaign leadership has been experiencing tension in its final weeks of campaigning. Corey Lewandowski, a controversial adviser, has been reassigned to focus on winning New Hampshire, as sources told CBS News. Despite this reassignment, Lewandowski has continued to travel with Trump, but his sole focus is now on New Hampshire, according to the former president. One source close to the campaign referred to Lewandowski as disruptive but acknowledged that he could still potentially be brought back if needed.
The move to reassign Lewandowski was reportedly prompted by internal rancor within the campaign. According to The Guardian, Lewandowski had threatened to take over the campaign and conducted an audit of co-chair Chris La Civita’s handling of campaign funds, leading to a power struggle between the two. Lewandowski has denied claims that his role has diminished, stating that he will continue to support Trump throughout the campaign. He emphasized that he is a voluntary worker on the campaign and aims to help Trump achieve his reelection goals.
Lewandowski’s reputation as a mercurial figure with a history of bare-knuckle campaigning has created anxieties among women who have accused him of harassment. One woman, Trashelle Odom, spoke out about her experience with Lewandowski at a charity event in Las Vegas in 2021, where she alleged that he made unwanted advances towards her. Odom reported the incident to the police, and charges were filed against Lewandowski, eventually leading to a dismissal in exchange for community service and an apology. Despite this incident, Lewandowski has faced other accusations of misconduct in the past, including in cases where charges were not pursued.
The issue of Lewandowski’s history with women has come under scrutiny as the Trump campaign seeks to attract female voters. A recent CBS News poll showed that among likely women voters, Vice President Kamala Harris had a 9-point advantage nationwide. As Trump’s campaign navigates these challenges in the final days before the election, the internal tensions and controversies surrounding Lewandowski’s reassignment highlight the complexities of managing a high-stakes political operation. By reassigning Lewandowski, the campaign may be seeking to mitigate the potential liabilities associated with his controversial past and prioritize its efforts towards winning key battleground states like New Hampshire.
