Trump orbit with John Thune in his sights and alleged lover Kristi Noem at his side
By Emily Goodin
Published Aug. 7, 2026, 8:08 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON — Corey Lewandowski is down, but not out.
President Trump’s rough-and-tumble former campaign manager took a hit when Trump fired Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary in March, ending Lewandowski’s position as a special government employee with its access and perks.
But the 52-year-old is working on engineering a return from political exile while maintaining his romantic relationship with Noem, sources tell The Post.
“Corey is looking for ways to get back in good with President Trump” is how one Republican strategist put it — and when Lewandowski recently singled out Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), eyebrows went up around Washington and the Black Hills.
“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 told conservative podcaster John Fredericks in late June.
“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, a description that sources said put them in mind of Noem, who became the first woman elected governor of the state in 2018 after serving four terms in the House of Representatives.
Multiple Republicans say remaining in Trump’s good graces is essential to Lewandowski and the success of his government and public affairs firm, Lewandowski Strategic Advisors.
“He values that relationship more than anything else,” one source said, while another confirmed Lewandowski “dines out” on having the president’s ear.
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https://nypost.com/2026/08/07/us-news/corey-lewandowski-plots-return-to-trump-orbit-with-john-thune-in-his-sights-and-alleged-lover-kristi-noem-at-his-side/
