After days of speculation that there is trouble in the Trump campaign ranks, the campaign announced it was bringing back a familiar face, 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. Lewandowski is a controversial figure who, in 2021, was accused of sexually harassing the wife of a campaign donor.
Recognizing the Campaign’s Challenges
Many across both parties have recognized that the Trump campaign was losing steam, while the Harris campaign has been surging from high to high in recent weeks.
Bringing Back Original Personalities
In an effort to regain the enthusiasm of the 2016 campaign, the Trump team is bringing back some of the original personalities who fueled the momentum of the initial MAGA movement.
Lewandowski’s Ongoing Involvement
Lewandowski has been informally incorporated into the Trump network since the beginning. He has also been embroiled in controversy for as long as he has been involved.
Controversial Past Incidents
In 2016, Lewandowski made headlines for physically grabbing a reporter forcefully by the arm and was subsequently charged with one count of simple battery by the local Jupiter, Florida Police Department. He was not ultimately prosecuted due to weak evidence. Lewandowski also grabbed a protestor by the collar at a Tucson, Arizona, campaign event in 2016.
Allegations in 2021
In 2021, Lewandowski allegedly made unwanted sexual advances toward an attendee at a campaign dinner.
Lewandowski was charged with misdemeanor battery in Clark County, Nevada, and entered into a plea agreement whereby he would pay a fine, serve 50 hours of community service, and engage in “impulse control counseling” in exchange for the charge to be dismissed.
New Role in the Campaign
He will now formally serve to direct and advise senior leaders within the campaign. Other past Trump aides will serve in similar advisory roles.
Current Campaign Struggles
Trump’s campaign is currently trailing the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign regarding fundraising and in polls focused on the battleground swing states.
Conservative Concerns
These data points have drawn concern from conservatives, who also point to Trump’s flagging energy and long-winded musings at campaign events and in his recent two-hour livestream chat session with technology billionaire Elon Musk.
Reinvigorating the MAGA Message
Trump’s MAGA message seems to have gotten lost, according to some Republican commentators. Lewandowski was brought in to infuse the core message and redirect the campaign in contradistinction to Harris.
Insider Perspective on New Appointments
Campaign insiders claim that the new official team members were brought in not to constitute a “shakeup” but rather to support and consolidate the current leadership structure within the campaign and concentrate efforts in the most beneficial direction.
Additional Campaign Additions
Another familiar face to join the campaign officially is Tim Murtaugh, Trump’s 2020 campaign communications director. Alex Pfeiffer and Alex Bruesewitz from the MAGA Inc. super PAC were also recently brought to the campaign. Taylor Budowich, also of MAGA Inc., is now a senior advisor for the Trump campaign.
Campaign’s Official Statement
The Trump team released a statement saying, “As we head into the home stretch of this election, we are continuing to add to our impressive campaign team.”
“[The new additions] are all veterans of prior Trump campaigns, and their unmatched experience will help President Trump prosecute the case against Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, the most radical ticket in American history.”
Trump’s Comments on Campaign Leadership
Despite reports that a shakeup of campaign leadership was underway, Trump has said as recently as last week that he was “thrilled” with his current campaign management.
