Donald Trump's embattled campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, is seeing his role reduced in the Republican front-runner's quest for the presidential nomination, according to news reports.
"I’m not saying Corey's going to be fired or anything because I don’t think he’s going to be, at least not at this juncture" a person involved in the developer's campaign told Politico. "But Mr. Trump's listening to other people now.
"The crew’s expanding," the person said. "The inner circle is not what it used to be."
Facing a charge of simple battery stemming from an alleged assault of a former Breitbart News reporter in Florida last month, Lewandowki continues to receive public reassurances from Trump — but his role has been shrinking
, according to Politico.
The report cites "three people on or close to the campaign" as sources.
The campaign's press office also has recently been overruling Lewandowski's decisions about issuing credentials for events, according to the report.
And four people close to the Trump family and campaign told Politico that their concerns about Lewandowski's temperament and parts of his performance have extended deep into Trump's inner circle.
While some of the changes reflect speedy growth in the Trump campaign, Politico reports that they also stem from "long-simmering concerns among some members of Trump’s inner circle about Lewandowski’s lack of national experience, his perceived unwillingness to challenge Trump and his brash temperament."
Neither Lewandowski, who ceded authority over many hiring decisions to a subordinate last month, nor Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks responded to requests for comment.