Lewandowski's Future at DHS Remains Unclear Following Noem's Sudden Removal
Corey Lewandowski has stated he has made "no decision" about whether he will depart the Department of Homeland Security following the abrupt firing of Kristi Noem, while simultaneously praising Donald Trump's leadership. The announcement comes amid intense speculation about Lewandowski's future role and his rumored personal relationship with the former DHS secretary.
Political Insider Predicts Lewandowski's Imminent Departure
Earlier today, The Daily Mail quoted a political insider who declared "there's no Corey without Kristi," suggesting Lewandowski would soon follow Noem out of the department. This prediction followed Trump's surprise announcement on Truth Social that he was replacing Noem with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin.
However, when questioned directly on Thursday shortly after Noem's ouster, Lewandowski remained noncommittal about his plans. "No decisions have been made about my voluntary capacity," Lewandowski told News Nation, leaving the door open for his continued involvement with the department.
Lewandowski Declines to Criticize Trump's Decision
Lewandowski, who describes himself as "an unpaid volunteer" and has also undertaken work at the Pentagon with Pete Hegseth, refused to criticize President Trump for his decision to remove Noem. "I would never try and assume to get in the mind of President Trump," Lewandowski told The New York Post. "I think he has his reasons for everything he does, and we have seen enormous success from his leadership at the White House."
When pressed about whether Noem's contentious congressional testimony—which included intense questioning about their alleged sexual relationship—influenced Trump's decision, Lewandowski again avoided direct commentary. "You're asking me to speculate on things that I have no insight into," he responded. He did express support for Mullin, stating he was "happy for Markwayne Mullen" to assume the DHS position.
Noem's Controversial Tenure and Congressional Grilling
Noem's removal came just days after her difficult appearances before House and Senate committees, where she was forced to defend a $220 million taxpayer-funded campaign designed to enhance her national profile and address questions about her alleged affair with Lewandowski. Both Noem and Lewandowski, who are married to other people, have consistently denied any romantic involvement, with Noem dismissing the allegations as "tabloid garbage."
Additional controversy has surrounded Noem's use of taxpayer-funded private jets for travel across the country with Lewandowski, who The Daily Mail reported was effectively running her department. Her tenure was further marred by negative fallout following deadly ICE raids in Minneapolis.
Internal Dynamics and Lewandowski's Influence
A former senior DHS official who worked directly under Noem claimed that conditions within the department would not improve until Lewandowski was removed, alleging he was "pulling the strings behind the scenes." The official described Lewandowski as "vindictive" and "not an honorable person," accusing him of bending rules to benefit himself and Noem.
According to sources, Lewandowski showed little hesitation in pressuring senior DHS officials and should never have been granted a role within the department. Interestingly, Lewandowski was reportedly instrumental in Noem's initial appointment, having personally lobbied Trump to give her the position as a favor to his loyal supporter.
Growing Tensions and Leadership Challenges
The White House had grown weary of weekly stories detailing scandal and infighting, with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles reportedly having "had enough of her theatrics." Noem's firing coincides with the majority of the department remaining shuttered due to a lapse in congressional funding.
Lewandowski and Noem adopted an aggressive stance against the growing bureaucracy within the agency, which had become stagnant on immigration issues. Top leaders faced difficult choices: either align with or placate Lewandowski, or risk the consequences of crossing or ignoring him. "There was no greater friend and no fiercer enemy," one source familiar with the agency's dynamics told The Daily Mail.
Ultimately, the pair made more enemies than friends among the upper echelons of DHS leadership, despite ICE agents feeling empowered by their unvarnished support for enforcement efforts. A source familiar with Trump's thinking in the days leading up to Noem's firing indicated that Lewandowski would soon follow his rumored lover out of the department, noting that while Lewandowski knew Noem's tenure was ending, he didn't expect it to happen so suddenly.
The Daily Mail has reached out to both the Department of Homeland Security and Lewandowski for additional comment regarding these developments.
