Colleagues of Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski call him lewd, hotheaded, unprofessional


Donald Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski recently skidded into the public eye when he was accused of roughly grabbing Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields. While both Trump and Lewandowski have denied the incident, some of Trump's staff as well as former colleagues of Lewandowski say the behavior isn't so out-of-line with the man they know.
According to over 20 sources who spoke with Politico, Lewandowski has a history of being hotheaded, lewd about female journalists, and often profane when laying into co-workers who challenge his authority. His behavior is cited by some as being entirely unprofessional and inappropriate: While working for the Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity advocacy network, Lewandowski once threatened to "blow up" the car of the organization's chief financial officer due to a late expense reimbursement check.
But some of his most fiery clashes came with a female official who ran one of the states under Lewandowski's control. The relationship ― and patience for Lewandowski within AFP ― reached a tipping point in October 2013. On the sidelines of a meeting of the group’s board in Manhattan, Lewandowski loudly berated the employee for challenging his authority, getting in her personal space and calling her a "c---" in front of a group of AFP employees, including some senior officials, according to three sources who either witnessed the exchange or dealt with its aftermath. [Politico]
Politico adds that several current and former high-ranking members of Trump's campaign actually planned to serve Trump with a letter addressing their concerns about Lewandowski, but put the plan aside after Trump's sweeping wins in the early primary states. The staffers assumed that as long as he was winning, Trump would see no reason to make any changes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Scottish hospitality shines at these 7 hotels
The Week Recommends Sleep well at these lovely inns across Scotland
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Scientists invent a solid carbon-negative building material
Under the radar Building CO2 into the buildings
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: April 1, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump 'not joking' about unconstitutional 3rd term
Speed Read The president seems to be serious about seeking a third term in 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published