One of Donald Trump’s former campaign advisers returned to the fold on Thursday and immediately screwed up big time.
Corey Lewandowski, who took a plea deal in 2022 over allegations that he made unwelcome sexual advances toward a GOP donor, is back to advise the Trump campaign’s senior leadership team.
Former President Donald Trump, the 2024 GOP nominee, brought Lewandowski back despite his controversial history, which includes telling a congressional hearing that he had “no obligation” to be honest with the media; being accused of mocking a girl with Down syndrome; and allegedly having an affair with married South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
If Trump hoped Lewandowski’s presence would help improve the optics of his campaign, he probably won’t be reassured by Lewandowski’s first tweet upon his return.
Lewandowski started off fine, writing: “How could anyone not be excited to help elect this man?” He added that he’s “excited to be back on the Campaign Team to help deliver victory in 2024,” and vowed to “let Trump, be Trump” (however much some members of his own party might want the exact opposite).
But then Lewandowski blew it with the final line: “Get off the couch and join us, the President needs your help.”
This, unavoidably, reminded plenty of people about the false claim that Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), Trump’s running mate, once fornicated with a couch.
People have been citing the joke for weeks to mock Vance, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president.
Lewandowski’s unfortunate choice of words did not go unnoticed.
To be fair, Lewandowski isn’t the only Republican on Trump’s presidential campaign who has (presumably accidentally) referred to couches in recent weeks.
Last month, Vance was speaking at a rally in Reno, Nevada, when he praised his wife, Usha, by saying: “I would call her up here to come and speak, but then I think I’d have to sleep on the couch tonight, so I’ll leave her alone.”
Furniture jokes aside, some people on social media argued that Lewandowski’s return to the Trump orbit might be bad news for other, more important reasons.