Corey Lewandowski may be out of President Donald Trump’s administration, but the longtime Republican political strategist apparently has no intention of disappearing from the national political scene.
Lewandowski, who managed Trump’s presidential campaign during part of the historic 2016 election cycle, lost his position as a special government employee following the March departure of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Now, Republican sources cited by the New York Post say Lewandowski is looking for a path back into Trump’s good graces — potentially setting the stage for another chapter in his long and sometimes turbulent relationship with the president.
The development comes as Republicans prepare for the 2026 midterm elections and Trump continues pressing GOP lawmakers to support key elements of his America First agenda.
Lewandowski’s recent criticism of Senate Majority Leader John Thune is adding another layer of intrigue.
Corey Lewandowski Eyes A Political Comeback
According to Republican strategists who spoke with the Post, Lewandowski is interested in rebuilding his standing with Trump after leaving the federal government earlier this year.
One strategist said Lewandowski has been searching for ways to repair his relationship with the president.
That relationship could have implications beyond Lewandowski’s personal political future.
Lewandowski runs Lewandowski Strategic Advisors, a government and public affairs firm, and sources told the newspaper that his longstanding connection to Trump remains an important part of his influence in Republican politics.
One source said Lewandowski places tremendous importance on maintaining his relationship with Trump.
Lewandowski has been associated with Trump for more than a decade, giving him considerably deeper ties to the MAGA movement than many political operatives currently working in Washington.
But getting back inside Trump’s inner circle could be difficult.
Lewandowski Puts John Thune On Notice
Lewandowski generated attention in Republican circles after publicly discussing the possibility that Senate Majority Leader John Thune could face a Republican primary challenge in South Dakota.
During a June appearance with conservative broadcaster John Fredericks, Lewandowski pointed out that Thune will face voters again in 2028.
He suggested the powerful Republican senator could potentially encounter a serious primary opponent.
Lewandowski then referenced the possibility of a challenger with a proven record of winning elections in South Dakota.
That immediately fueled speculation surrounding Kristi Noem.
Before joining the Trump administration, Noem served as South Dakota governor and represented the state in Congress. She became South Dakota’s first female governor following her 2018 election victory.
Lewandowski did not explicitly say Noem should challenge Thune, but his remarks were enough to get Republicans talking.
A Noem-Thune contest would potentially become one of the most closely watched Republican Senate primaries in the country.
Trump’s Agenda Becomes Part Of The Fight
Lewandowski’s criticism of Republican senators also centers on Trump’s election-integrity agenda.
One major point of contention is the SAVE America Act, legislation backed by Trump that would establish proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration and require photo identification before voting.
Supporters argue that such requirements would strengthen confidence in American elections and help ensure that only eligible citizens participate.
Thune has warned that the proposal does not currently have sufficient support to clear the Senate.
That has frustrated Trump, who continues urging congressional Republicans to advance the legislation.
When contacted by the Post, Lewandowski pointed to Trump’s commanding political strength in South Dakota.
Trump carried the state by a wide margin, and Lewandowski argued that elected officials ultimately remain accountable to the voters they represent.
He also urged incumbent Republican senators to work toward advancing Trump’s legislative objective.
The disagreement highlights a larger question facing the Republican Party: How aggressively should congressional leaders move to enact Trump’s agenda when Senate rules and narrow margins make passage difficult?
Trump Remains Popular In South Dakota
Polling suggests Trump continues to hold a stronger position with South Dakota voters than Thune.
A May KELOLAND/Emerson College poll found that 53% of South Dakota voters approved of Trump’s job performance.
Thune’s approval rating in the same survey stood at 28%.
Those numbers do not necessarily predict the outcome of a Republican primary several years from now, but they demonstrate the political influence Trump continues to wield in the deeply Republican state.
If Thune were challenged by a candidate closely aligned with the president, Trump’s endorsement could potentially become one of the most important factors in the contest.
Thune has not formally committed to seeking another Senate term.
The 65-year-old Republican has indicated that he currently expects to run again but wants to evaluate the political environment following the November 2026 midterm elections.
That uncertainty leaves Republicans with plenty to speculate about ahead of 2028.
Could Kristi Noem Challenge Thune?
Noem’s name adds another dimension to the story.
Before joining Trump’s second administration, she had established herself as one of the Republican Party’s most recognizable conservative figures.
She served four terms in the House before becoming governor of South Dakota.
But her political standing has changed considerably since then.
Trump dismissed Noem as Homeland Security secretary in March following a series of controversies involving her leadership of the department.
Media scrutiny surrounding Noem’s personal life has also intensified.
The New York Post reported that Noem and Lewandowski continue to have a romantic relationship, citing unnamed sources and recently published photographs showing the pair together in Minnesota.
Neither Noem nor Lewandowski has publicly confirmed the reported relationship.
Both remain legally married to other people, according to the newspaper.
Because those claims concern their personal lives and have not been confirmed by either individual, they remain allegations rather than established facts.
Lewandowski’s History With Trump Goes Back Years
Whatever happens next, Lewandowski is hardly a newcomer to Trump politics.
He served as Trump’s original campaign manager during the 2016 presidential campaign and helped guide the political newcomer through some of the earliest Republican primary contests.
Trump’s victory in the New Hampshire primary was particularly significant, helping establish him as a legitimate contender for the Republican presidential nomination.
Lewandowski eventually departed the campaign, but he remained a prominent Trump supporter and frequently appeared in conservative media defending the president and his policies.
Over the following years, he repeatedly returned to Trump’s political orbit.
That history is one reason Republican insiders are reluctant to declare Lewandowski’s influence permanently finished.
One strategist quoted by the Post characterized him as both smart and calculating, while others reportedly described him as a political survivor.
His ability to maintain relevance through multiple election cycles has become one of his defining characteristics.
A Return To Trump’s Inner Circle Won’t Be Easy
Lewandowski nevertheless faces significant obstacles if he wants another official role connected to Trump.
One of the biggest could be White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Lewandowski reportedly developed a strained relationship with Wiles during Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign after becoming involved in an internal power struggle.
Wiles subsequently became one of the most influential officials in Trump’s second administration.
Any serious attempt by Lewandowski to regain an administration position could therefore encounter resistance from powerful figures already surrounding the president.
His time at the Department of Homeland Security has generated additional scrutiny.
The Wall Street Journal reported in July that a DHS watchdog investigation raised questions about whether Lewandowski may have participated in improperly awarding federal contracts.
The newspaper reported that officials were considering whether the matter should be referred to the Justice Department.
Lewandowski has denied wrongdoing.
No criminal finding against him was established in the information cited by the report, making careful distinction between allegations and proven conduct important.
Noem Faces Her Own Political Challenges
Noem would also have significant hurdles to overcome if she were interested in returning to elected office.
Her tenure at Homeland Security ended amid controversy, while stories involving her personal life have attracted widespread tabloid attention.
She also faced substantial criticism following the publication of her 2024 memoir, which included her account of killing a family dog she described as dangerous and unmanageable.
The episode became a national political controversy and remains associated with her public image.
Noem also stayed largely out of South Dakota’s recent Republican gubernatorial runoff, declining to publicly campaign for or endorse Larry Rhoden, who succeeded her as governor and ultimately won renomination.
One Republican strategist quoted by the Post offered an especially harsh assessment, describing Noem’s political brand as “toxic.”
Whether Republican voters in South Dakota share that assessment is another matter.
Noem is currently serving at the State Department as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.
Thune Would Be A Formidable Opponent
Any Republican considering a challenge to Thune would face an experienced incumbent with decades of political experience.
Thune served six years in the House before winning election to the Senate in 2004.
He has since risen through the Republican leadership ranks to become Senate majority leader, giving him substantial political connections, fundraising ability and institutional support.
Several Republican strategists with ties to South Dakota told the Post they continue to believe Thune would be strongly positioned to win another term.
But Republican primaries have changed considerably during the Trump era.
Institutional support and seniority no longer guarantee victory if grassroots Republican voters decide an incumbent has moved too far away from Trump’s agenda.
That reality could make any potential Thune primary especially important.
What Happens Next For Lewandowski?
The immediate question is whether Lewandowski’s public support for Trump’s priorities can help him rebuild his standing with the president.
Trump has demonstrated throughout his political career that former advisers can sometimes return to his orbit after periods of disagreement or separation.
Lewandowski also has something few Republican strategists can claim: a political relationship with Trump that dates back to the beginning of his first presidential campaign.
But history alone may not be enough.
Lewandowski would have to overcome damaged relationships inside Trump’s administration, lingering questions surrounding his DHS tenure and the political fallout connected to Noem.
For conservative voters, the larger story could ultimately be less about Lewandowski himself and more about where the Republican Party goes next.
Trump remains the dominant figure in the GOP, and Republican lawmakers are under continuing pressure from grassroots voters to deliver on the president’s priorities involving immigration, election integrity, government spending and the America First agenda.
If Lewandowski’s comments are an early warning that Thune could eventually face a Trump-aligned primary challenger, the political consequences could extend well beyond South Dakota.
And if Lewandowski succeeds in rebuilding his relationship with Trump, one of the president’s most recognizable early political operatives could once again find himself near the center of Republican politics.