Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski standing next to each other.
Corey Lewandowski Abruptly Exits Trump Administration — Are His Affair Rumors With Kristi Noem to Blame?
Drama has erupted in President Donald Trump’s political circle as Corey Lewandowski, one of his longtime allies, has exited his controversial role as a special government employee. Lewandowski's departure follows swirling rumors of an alleged relationship between him and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The news emerged shortly after Lewandowski was seen traveling with Noem on a multi‑country tour across Latin America. While three sources close to the Trump administration have confirmed that he will not be working under Noem at the State Department, the situation remains murky.
At the same time, Noem herself is undergoing a major shake‑up. She has been replaced as Homeland Security Secretary and has taken on a new role as special envoy to the new Shield of the Americas initiative.
Sources Share Possible Reasons for Lewandowski’s Exit
An X post mentioning Corey Lewandowski's exit from the Trump administration.
The decision for Lewandowski to leave the administration appears to have come very quickly. According to sources, it was finalized either on Tuesday, March 24, or Wednesday, March 25, just as photos surfaced of him and Noem during a trip to Guyana.
While the visit was meant to promote a new anti‑crime plan, it instead drew intense scrutiny to their working relationship. Following this incident, sources have given conflicting accounts to The New York Post about why Lewandowski has suddenly stepped down.
Two sources claimed that Trump allegedly pushed him out, as he was unhappy with a $220 million advertising campaign that included Noem. In addition, he was also disgruntled with other decisions Lewandowski made while acting as Noem’s chief of staff.
Meanwhile, another source mentioned that Lewandowski chose to leave on his own. He was not interested in working at the State Department, where Noem would now report to Chris Landau. However, the true reason behind his exit has not been confirmed yet.
Trump Allegedly Entertained Calls to Fire the Duo
Meanwhile, a major report by The Wall Street Journal from February 2026 has added more drama to the current situation involving Noem and the exit of her adviser Lewandowski. The report previously touched upon their alleged relationship and the backlash they were facing.
For a long time, there have been rumors that the two, who are both married, may have been involved in an affair. However, the duo has strongly denied these claims, with Noem personally calling the rumors a “disgusting lie.”
Still, the report said their “close relationship had already made Trump and his top advisers uncomfortable.” It also revealed that Trump had in fact entertained calls to fire Noem and Lewandowski amid discontent about their management.
In addition, the report also revealed that the president had once refused to make Lewandowski her official chief of staff “due to reports of a romantic relationship between the two.” Despite this, Lewandowski continued to play a key role in her team.
Now, after these fresh details, some believe Lewandowski may have quietly been pushed out of his position. However, since there is no official confirmation yet, the real reason behind his exit remains unclear.