Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski announced yesterday that he would not be joining the administration. Instead, he is forming a new lobbying firm to sell access to the president-elect.
Proud to launch our new venture today to support @realDonaldTrump achieve his agenda in Washington D.C. pic.twitter.com/ZEot6IrvJ4
— Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) December 21, 2016
By all accounts, even after his firing, Lewandowski remained a key adviser to Trump and was often spotted on the campaign trail. Lewandowski said he was offered various positions inside the administration. He turned those down but pledged to continue to “help” Trump. He will do so from a lobbying firm located a block from the White House on behalf of paying clients.
All of this seems to directly contradict Trump’s core pledge to “drain the swamp.”
Appearing on Fox News this morning, Lewandowski was asked: “Where does drain the swamp stack up in terms of things to adhere to in the Trump camp.”
Lewandowski respond that it would be “down at the bottom” of Trump’s list of priorities.
Lewandowski on Trump's priorities: "'Drain the swamp' is probably somewhere down at the bottom." pic.twitter.com/Tgg3IvQ0jS
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 22, 2016
Lewandowski’s comments come a day after Newt Gingrich, another close Trump adviser, said Trump wasn’t interested in draining the swamp anymore.
“He now says it was cute, but he doesn’t want to use it anymore,” Gingrich said. Over the last several weeks, Trump has stuffed his administration with Wall Street bankers and lobbyists.
This may all come as a surprise to Trump voters. Trump repeatedly used the slogan on the campaign trail and frequently tweeted using the #draintheswamp hashtag. It was effectively his closing argument.
Here is just a small sampling of his dozens of tweets on the topic.
I will Make Our Government Honest Again — believe me. But first, I'm going to have to #DrainTheSwamp in DC. https://t.co/m1lMAQPnIb
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2016
Time to #DrainTheSwamp in Washington, D.C. and VOTE #TrumpPence16 on 11/8/2016. Together, we will MAKE AMERICA SAFE AND GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/1JCHmBuCRF
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 19, 2016
I am going to expand the definition of LOBBYIST – so we close all the LOOPHOLES! #DrainTheSwamp pic.twitter.com/PBPrrEnfSK
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 19, 2016
Record crowd in Tampa, Florida- thank you! We will WIN FLORIDA, #DrainTheSwamp in Washington D.C. and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/gjifLddB3d
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2016
THANK YOU Phoenix, Arizona! Time for new POWERFUL leadership. Just imagine what WE can accomplish in our first 100 days! #DrainTheSwamp pic.twitter.com/0PsRXMXShU
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 30, 2016
Thank you Michigan! This is a MOVEMENT that will never be seen again- it's our last chance to #DrainTheSwamp! Watch: https://t.co/jggCr7AZGm pic.twitter.com/Fd11eK876G
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2016
Thank you Concord, North Carolina! When WE win on November 8th, we are going to Washington, D.C. and we are going to #DrainTheSwamp! pic.twitter.com/EpnUScWZ7b
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2016
Old habits die hard, however. During a December 6 speech in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Trump vowed to “drain the swamp of corruption in Washington, D.C.”
Update: Trump just tweeted that he intends to keep using the phrase “drain the swamp.”
Someone incorrectly stated that the phrase "DRAIN THE SWAMP" was no longer being used by me. Actually, we will always be trying to DTS.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016
He did not say whether or not he would continue to surround himself with lobbyists and former employees of Goldman Sachs.