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Donald Trump continues to see a drop-off in support from allies and a refusal from members of his former inner-circle to support his 2024 run.
Of the nine former Trump campaign officials reached by CNN, only three said that they publicly plan to support the former president’s third consecutive White House bid.
Once Trump’s top trusted campaign manager, Corey Lewsandowski is reportedly privately pitching potential Republican candidates to go up against the former president in the primary elections – including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
Lewandowski, who is a New Hampshire resident, was not with Trump during his visit to the Granite State in January. The former Trump aide, however, insists that he has not ‘courted any other GOP candidates for president.’
Former senior Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli launched a super PAC on Thursday aimed at getting DeSantis elected president in 2024, even though the governor has not yet announced his bid.
Donald Trump is losing support from his once-inner circle as former aides and advisers refuse to weigh-in or full get on-board with other GOP candidates for 2024
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, once Trump’s White House press secretary, told Trump in a recent phone call that she wasn’t ready to levy an endorsement after he asked for it, according to a New York Times report
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as Trump’s White House press secretary and was one of his most staunch supporters throughout his tenure, has refused to take a side in the upcoming presidential election.
Trump called Sanders recently to ask for her support, the New York Times reported earlier this month, but she wasn’t ready to wade into the waters of an endorsement for 2024.
‘I love the president, have a great relationship with him,’ Sanders told Fox News in January. ‘I know our country would be infinitely better off if he was in office right now instead of Joe Biden, but right now my focus isn’t 2024, it’s focusing here in Arkansas.’
Alexa Henning, a spokeswoman for Sanders, told CNN that her comment still stands two months later.
The distancing from Trump comes as the 2024 primary race heats up and reports emerge that DeSantis will announce his candidacy as early as May. The Sunshine State’s leader has started touring the country and visiting key states – like Iowa and New Hampshire – that indicate an announcement is impending.
Two former aides reached by CNN say that they want to remain neutral in the 2024 race, while three others refused to weigh-in publicly.
Trump’s former 2016 campaign spokesperson Katrina Pierson was noncommittal about an endorsement.
Once Trump’s top trusted campaign manager, Corey Lewsandowski is privately pitching potential Republican candidates to go up against the former president in the primary elections – including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, according to CNN
Former senior Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli launched a super PAC Thursday to get Governor Ron DeSantis elected president in 2024
Lewandowski has been by the former president’s side for many of his trips to New Hampshire, but opted out of Trump’s first visit there in his 2024 bid for president despite being invited to attend.
While many see this as his continual drifting from Trump, Lewandowski says it was just bad timing.
‘I was over 1,500 miles away, and Mr. Trump was well aware of that,’ Lewandowski told CNN.
He added that his relationship with Trump has ‘never changed for the last eight years’ – even though more than a dozen people in Trump’s orbit noted a change.
Another stab-in-the-back is Cuccinelli starting a PAC directly aimed at getting Trump’s biggest rival elected the GOP nominee in 2024.
NEVER BACK DOWN PAC filed paperwork in late February with the Federal Election Commission and is now the fourth political committee created to encourage DeSantis to run.
‘I have been speaking to many grassroots conservative activists around the country who are very enthusiastic for Governor DeSantis to run for president in 2024,’ Cuccinelli said in a statement on the PAC’s formation.
‘The energy is there, grassroots conservatives see the governor as a leader and a fighter with a winning conservative track record who will lead the Republican Party to victory in 2024. Based on those conversations, I am most confident that we will build an unmatched grassroots political army for Governor DeSantis to help carry him to the White House.’
Trump is still holding onto some tried-and-true supporters within his inner-circle, including Jason Miller, who worked on his 2016 and 2020 campaigns; social media guru Dan Scavino; and Steve Bannon
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