Corey Lewandowski Leaves His Position Amid Controversy
In a surprising turn of events, Corey Lewandowski has stepped down from his controversial role as a special government official. Despite this, he will still join Kristi Noem on a multi-country journey through Latin America this week, as confirmed by four sources familiar with the situation.
A White House official and three individuals close to the Trump administration clarified that Lewandowski’s departure follows the removal of two Homeland Security officials, who were seen in South America.
Noem officially took office on Tuesday, taking over from Markwayne Mullin, who has become the new Secretary of Homeland Security and special envoy for the “America’s Shield” initiative.
It seems Lewandowski made his final decision to leave around Tuesday or Wednesday, coinciding with a photo op that featured the couple promoting an anti-crime initiative in Guyana, according to three sources.
Two insiders claimed that Trump was pressuring for Noem’s removal after voicing concerns over a significant $220 million advertising campaign involving her, as well as other decisions made by Lewandowski during his time as de facto chief of staff.
Another insider suggested that Lewandowski opted to step back because he didn’t want to continue in the State Department. Noem is set to serve as Cabinet Secretary under Trump and will report directly to Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau.
Though Lewandowski will not be accompanying her in an official capacity, Noem received permission to transfer 10 DHS subordinates to the State Department.
Her trip to Latin America had started while she was still in her Homeland Security role and included stops in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guyana, and finally, Ecuador. Lewandowski’s involvement was highlighted by images taken during their fourth stop.
Whether his departure will impact future travel plans with Noem remains uncertain.
Requests for comments from Lewandowski went unanswered, and the State Department offered no immediate statement.
Lewandowski’s significant influence as Noem’s unpaid de facto chief of staff has sparked criticism and raised red flags about conflicts of interest. His actions are currently under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general.
His term as a special government official is capped at 130 days per year, but he managed to extend his tenure from 2025 to 2026 by circumventing certain protocols, arriving at DHS headquarters in Noem’s motorcade.
Officials noted that Lewandowski often spent the night at a government-owned residence near Noem’s location, and his special status allowed him to sidestep disclosing financial information that typically aims to prevent conflicts in government duties.
Recently, Lewandowski traveled to Guyana with Noem, participating in discussions with President Irfaan Ali and energy officials. Social media images capture him alongside her as she meets with officials.
The U.S. embassy indicated that the visit aimed to strengthen the partnership between the U.S. and the South American nation, focusing on shared challenges such as dismantling drug cartels, curbing illegal immigration, and fostering peace and stability across the region.
