Washington, D.C. – Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has fired his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, according to various news reports. The move comes as a major surprise after Trump steadfastly stood by Lewandowski after he was accused of assaulting former Breitbart reporter, Michelle Fields, in March. While video surfaced that appeared to exonerate Lewandowski of any wrongdoing, he was still charged with simple battery in connection with the incident.
According to various sources, Lewandowski took part in the campaign’s customary 8:30 a.m. news call this morning. Unbeknownst to everyone at the time, it would be Lewandowski’s final call as part of the Trump campaign.
The abrupt move comes at a time when the Trump campaign is facing new challenges as it prepares to take aim at Democrat presumptive nominee, Hillary Clinton, in November. Faced with the impending onslaught of negative advertisements from the well-endowed Clinton campaign, the Trump campaign has been planning adjustments in recent weeks, and has been actively trying to hire new campaign employees, unify a fractured party and court much-needed Republican donors.
The Trump campaign released the following statement after news broke of Lewandowski’s firing: “The Donald J Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign.” She added: “The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future.”