Donald Trump fires campaign manager amid dismal poll numbers

Donald Trump on Monday fired his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, in the face of sagging poll numbers and a presidential campaign facing increasing pressure from the Republican Party.

A statement from Trump spokesperson cited by Washington Post and other U.S. media, thanked Mr. Lewandowski for his hard work.

“The Donald J. Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign,” the campaign spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, said in a statement.

“The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future.”

Four weeks before the decisive Republican convention in Cleveland and four months before the general election, the Trump team’s inner circle, including the billionaire’s children, met on Monday.

According to the statement, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss strategy in the face of falling poll numbers and a bad press in recent weeks.

A series of recent surveys showed presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton polling ahead of Trump by as many as 10 points.

Republican Party leadership, and most especially important potential big donors, have been critical of Trump’s campaign tactics and lack of discipline.

SOURCE: dpa/NAN