Donald Trump fired his controversial campaign manager Corey Lewandowski Monday, unleashing a major shake-up as he comes under pressure from his closest advisers -- particularly his family members -- to urgently reset his struggling presidential campaign.
Lewandowski's abrupt departure is the campaign's most significant staff change to date and signals an acknowledgment from Trump that an overhaul is necessary ahead of the general election. Trump has suffered major setbacks since becoming the GOP's presumptive nominee last month, coming under intense criticism from party leaders, major donors and rank-and-file Republicans for an array of issues -- including his response to the terrorist attack in Orlando that killed 49 people.
"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," Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement Monday. "The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future."
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The decision to fire Lewandowski was made swiftly in a Monday morning weekly meeting with Trump's family members, a Trump adviser said.
In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Lewandowski -- asked why he was fired -- said: "I don't know. I don't know the answer to that."
"But what I know is that what we've been able to achieve in this election cycle was historic," Lewandowski said. "I had a nice conversation with Mr. Trump and I said to him, 'It's been an honor and a privilege to be a part of this,' and I mean that from the bottom of my heart."
Lewandowski consistently pushed back on widespread reporting that his presence in the Trump campaign had grown toxic, even as he acknowledged that he is a "very intense person," a perfectionist and a "straight shooter" -- sometimes to his own detriment. And even without a formal role with the campaign, Lewandowski said he would do whatever he could to help Trump win the White House.
He was also notably unapologetic: "I have no regrets as it comes to this campaign," he said.
Trump, speaking to Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, in an interview set to air Monday night, praised Lewandowski, saying he was "really proud of him."
"He did a great job. But we're gonna go little bit of a different route," he told O'Reilly.
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