Corey Lewandowski was removed from his Trump administration role after photos showed him with Kristi Noem during a stop in Guyana, the fourth leg of a five-country tour. State Department officials said the trip was not a State Department mission, and U.S. sources indicated Lewandowski will not be employed by State. Reports conflict on whether he resigned or was forced out over contract decisions. The situation follows concerns about Lewandowski’s role inside DHS and public scrutiny of Noem’s tenure.
Corey Lewandowski Ousted After Being Photographed With Kristi Noem During Tropical Tour
Screenshot/Office of the President
Corey Lewandowski was removed from his role in the Trump administration after photographs surfaced showing him with former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a stop on a multi-country tour in Guyana.
Lewandowski's presence in Guyana made waves online. / Screenshot/Office of the President / Screenshot/Office of the President
A White House official and three sources close to the administration told the New York Post that Lewandowski’s departure followed images of him and Noem, 54, in Guyana, where temperatures were reported between 75°F and 83°F. The Guyana stop was the fourth leg of a five-country itinerary that began while Noem still held her prior post.
Lewandowski was prominently seated next to Noem during a meeting with Guyanese government officials. / Screenshot/Office of the President / Screenshot/Office of the President
It remains unclear whether the pair traveled on the leased luxury Boeing 737 with a private bedroom that Noem reportedly had access to. Sources say the final decision about Lewandowski’s status as a special government employee — a role in which he functioned as Noem’s de facto chief of staff — was made on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The U.S. Embassy of Guyana announced the meeting on Wednesday. / Screenshot/Office of the / Office of the President
The Daily Beast has reached out to Lewandowski, the Department of Homeland Security and the White House for comment.
“Kristi Noem held a meeting with His Excellency President Irfaan Ali and Guyanese government officials to reaffirm the enduring U.S.-Guyana partnership,” the embassy wrote. / Screenshot/Office of the President / Screenshot/Office of the President
Photos And The Trip
Photographs reportedly taken in Guyana show the alleged couple meeting with government and corporate officials. The engagement appeared to be Noem’s first public outing since being named Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas — a position reportedly created by former President Trump after her removal from DHS and the swearing-in of Markwayne Mullin as her replacement.
Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa awarded Kristi Noem the National Order of Merit in the rank of Grand Cross in Quito on Wednesday, according to the U.S. embassy. / U.S. Embassy in Ecuador
After the embassy in Guyana published the photos, State Department officials told CBS News the visit was not a State Department mission, suggesting the tour was arranged independently of the department. The Daily Beast has asked the State Department for clarification.
Employment Status And Reports
U.S. and State Department sources told CBS News that Lewandowski is not employed by the State Department and will not be in the future, including in any special government employee capacity. One source told the New York Post that Lewandowski quit because he did not want to work at State; two other sources said Trump was pushing him out after disapproving of certain contract decisions.
Other officials dismissed by the administration while traveling have sometimes been left stranded — an outcome previously experienced by figures such as Mike Waltz, who watched Air Force One depart without him.
Follow-Up Stops And Reactions
Noem landed in Ecuador for the fifth stop on her tour, where Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa presented her with an award recognizing collaboration against drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador. Embassy photos of that visit did not include Lewandowski.
At DHS, Lewandowski — a former Trump campaign adviser — was known as Noem’s right-hand aide, and their rumored relationship has been widely discussed in political circles. For months before Noem’s abrupt removal, his role within DHS reportedly drew concern across the political spectrum and even within the White House.
During a congressional hearing the day before her exit, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove questioned Noem about the alleged relationship. Noem responded, “This is what you do—the socialist liberal left—you go off and you attack conservative women,” and added that she was neither “stupid” nor a “sl-t.”
The Daily Beast and other outlets continue to seek comment from all parties involved as the situation develops.
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