WASHINGTON — Corey Lewandowski is down, however not out.
President Trump’s rough-and-tumble former marketing campaign supervisor took a success when Trump fired Kristi Noem as Homeland Safety secretary in March, ending Lewandowski’s place as a particular authorities worker with its entry and perks.
However the 52-year-old is engaged on engineering a return from political exile whereas sustaining his romantic relationship with Noem, sources inform The Publish.
“Corey is in search of methods to get again in good with President Trump” is how one Republican strategist put it — and when Lewandowski lately singled out Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-SD), eyebrows went up round Washington and the Black Hills.
“John Thune, who occurs to be up for re-election — not this November however two years from now — may be very inclined to a really severe Republican major problem,” Lewandowski instructed conservative podcaster John Fredericks in late June.
“The American folks will likely be taking a look at somebody who has a confirmed historical past of successful an election in South Dakota to possibly problem John Thune,” he added, an outline that sources mentioned put them in thoughts of Noem, who turned the primary girl elected governor of the state in 2018 after serving 4 phrases within the Home of Representatives.
A number of Republicans say remaining in Trump’s good graces is important to Lewandowski and the success of his authorities and public affairs agency, Lewandowski Strategic Advisors.
“He values that relationship greater than the rest,” one supply mentioned, whereas one other confirmed Lewandowski “dines out” on having the president’s ear.
“President Trump carried the state of South Dakota by almost 30 factors. The folks of that state overwhelmingly help his agenda for America,” Lewandowski mentioned when reached for remark Thursday. “No politician is resistant to the desire of the voters.”
He then pivoted to calling for passage of Trump’s signature laws, the SAVE America Act, which might require People to point out proof of citizenship earlier than registering to vote and supply photograph identification earlier than casting a poll — and which Thune has mentioned doesn’t have the votes to cross the Senate, to the president’s enduring frustration.
“I might encourage each incumbent senator to realize this goal,” Lewandowski mentioned pointedly.
In the meantime, Noem and Lewandowski — each of whom are nonetheless formally married to different folks — proceed to pursue a romantic relationship, sources instructed The Publish after the duo was noticed biking and canoodling alongside the shores of Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota this week. Neither has commented on the intimate pictures revealed by TMZ.
The 2 are additionally identified to have ambitions that finish with Noem occupying the Oval Workplace, a plan that dates again to her time as South Dakota governor.
Lewandowski has been a favourite of Trump’s since he managed the president’s 2016 victory within the New Hampshire major, which helped catapult him to the Republican nomination.
However Trump grew pissed off after Noem oversaw a collection of controversies over immigration enforcement whereas head of DHS, and her non-answer when requested throughout a congressional listening to whether or not she was having an affair with Lewandowski was the ultimate straw resulting in her dismissal.
Lewandowski left his put up as a particular authorities worker on the identical time. Some say Trump compelled him out, though his allies say he left of his personal accord.
However those that know Lewandowski — even when they don’t like him — know higher than to rely him out, with one Republican strategist calling him “sensible and calculating” whereas including that he “by no means absolutely goes away.” Nonetheless others consult with him as a “survivor.”
Given Lewandowski’s status for holding grudges and hardball ways in opposition to these he feels crossed him, each supply interviewed for this story requested to stay anyonymous.
The highway again won’t be simple. Lewandowski has few followers in Trump’s orbit, and made an enemy of highly effective White Home chief of employees Susie Wiles, whom he tried to overthrow whereas she was operating Trump’s profitable 2024 marketing campaign.
The fallout from Lewandowski’s time at DHS additionally has but to settle.
Final month, the Wall Road Journal reported that the division’s inside watchdog discovered proof Lewandowski could have been concerned in improperly awarding federal contracts and was weighing sending a referral to the Justice Division for potential prosecution. Lewandowski has denied wrongdoing.
Regardless of being married since 2005 to spouse Allison Hardy, Lewandowski has additionally been accused of quite a few affairs and appearing inappropriately with high-profile ladies within the Trump orbit. He has denied these claims as effectively.
In the meantime, Thune would possible be a formidable opponent for Noem. A number of Republican strategists with ties to South Dakota instructed The Publish they nonetheless see the bulk chief in a powerful place to win a fifth time period in 2028.
The 65-year-old has an extended historical past of public service, having served within the Home of Representatives for six years earlier than his election to the Senate in 2004.
Nonetheless, polls present voters within the state give larger marks to Trump. The president had a 53% job approval ranking amongst South Dakota voters in a Could KELOLAND/Emerson Faculty ballot whereas Thune’s approval was solely 28%.
Thune has indicated he’ll search re-election however hasn’t dedicated to doing so, claiming he needs to see the place Republicans stand after November’s midterm election.
“My assumption is, getting into, that I’m,” he instructed reporters on Capitol Hill this week.
“You recognize, each election has an influence on that, so we’ll see the way it comes out in November,” he added.
There’s additionally the query of whether or not Noem’s model has sustained an excessive amount of harm following her dismissal from DHS, the Day by day Mail’s revelation that her husband Byron has a “bimbofication” fetish and her weird story of taking pictures a “harmful” household canine that was revealed in her 2024 memoir.
She notably stayed out of final week’s Republican gubernatorial runoff — neither campaigning for nor endorsing her substitute as governor, Larry Rhoden, who in the end cruised to renomination.
“Poisonous” was how one Republican strategist described the 54-year-old Noem, at present serving on the State Division in her place as Particular Envoy for the Protect of the Americas.
Reps for the White Home, Noem and Thune didn’t reply to requests for remark.
