Ex-Trump Advisor Looking to Get Back Into President’s ‘Good Graces’ with Potential Challenge to Thune: Report

AP Photo/Josh Reynolds

Corey Lewandowski is reportedly looking for ways to get back into President Donald Trump’s “good graces,” which could include a challenge to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).

The former presidential advisor’s purported plans were reported by The New York Post, which cited sources familiar with the situation.

“Corey is looking for ways to get back in good with President Trump,” one Republican strategist said.

Another source told the outlet Lewandowski “values” his relationship with Trump, which dates back to his 2016 presidential campaign, “more than anything else.”

Lewandowski’s name checking of Thune in a June podcast prompted some to think he could be plotting a challenge to the Senate Majority Leader.

“John Thune, who happens to be up for re-election — not this November but two years from now — is very susceptible to a very serious Republican primary challenge,” Lewandowski said in the podcast.

“The American people will be looking at someone who has a proven history of winning an election in South Dakota to maybe challenge John Thune,” he added.

Lewandowski’s remarks prompted the sources to think of Kristi Noem, the first woman elected governor of the state in 2018 after serving four terms in the House of Representatives.

Lewandowski left his role as a special government employee whenNoem lost her position heading the Department of Homeland Security in March.

Noem, who currently serves as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, and Lewandowski are reportedly in a romantic relationship.

Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration with Thune over the Senate’s inability to pass the SAVE America Act and failure to end the filibuster, both of which the president has publicly pushed Thune to accomplish.

The president refused to back Thune in an interview with Punchbowl News this week.

“John’s trying. He’s trying hard. I really believe that. But if he doesn’t get there, it would be unfortunate,” Trump said.

Thune has repeatedly said he does not have the votes to go through with.

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