Donald Trump is parting ways with his controversial campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, a move that comes as the presumptive Republican nominee faces challenges as he moves toward the general election.
"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," the campaign spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, said in a statement. "The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future," the statement added.
Trump had faced increasing concerns from allies and donors, as well as his children, about the next phase of the campaign as he pivots toward a general election. Two people briefed on the move said that Lewandowski was let go.
The campaign manager was seen as having a hostile relationship with many members of the national press corps that covers Trump, and many officials at the Republican National Committee had strained relationships with him. And Lewandowski was often at odds with Trump's chief strategist, Paul Manafort, who was brought on in March when the candidate seemed poised for a lengthy fight over delegates.
Lewandowski was said to have resisted certain moves that would have increased the staff, at times blocking Manafort from making hires or later undoing them. But the people briefed on Lewandowski's departure said that the circumstances went well beyond any particular incident or any particular relationship.
Lewandowski could not immediately be reached for comment. On Twitter, some campaign staffers rejoiced at the news of Lewandowski's departure. "Ding dong the witch is dead" wrote Michael Caputo, a Trump communications aide who was said to have been antagonised by Lewandowski.
