SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Former Donald Trump campaign manager and advisor Corey Lewandowski puts to rest the rumor that Gov. Kristi Noem will replace Vice President Mike Pence on the 2020 GOP Presidential ticket.
“Donald Trump and Mike Pence are going to run to be the chief executive officers of our country for another four years,” Lewandowski told KELO.com News. “They are going to do that together. That is unequivocal.”
He says he was the chairman of the committee that picked Trump’s running mate and was the one who recommended Mike Pence be vetted.
“And I think Pence is the single best addition to the Trump administration and the best partner that this president could have. And Mike Pence is not going anywhere. Mike Pence is going to be on the ticket.”
Lewandowski says Noem probably could have stayed in Washington, D.C. as a Congresswoman as long as she wanted but she came home to her ranch and her family. South Dakota is where she belongs and being the governor at least for now, according to Lewandowski.
However, Lewandowski has been advising Noem and helping her raise her national profile. He says Noem is the future of the Republican Party.
“She’s a smart articulate woman who is serving as the chief executive officer, serving with conservative principles,” Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski says the GOP needs to be more inclusive. However, she says leaders like Noem and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds are a big part of the process buy they are “not caving to left-wing ideals.”
Lewandowski says he just likes to help his friends who have potential.
“Like I do with other friends of mine who are governors. I see opportunities for them.,” Lewandowski said. “They give speeches somewhere to continue to raise them their profile, to talk about the successes that they’re delivering. And I pass that along as potential opportunities.”
Lewandowski says he’ll be at the Mount Rushmore fireworks show tomorrow, a show that President Trump is also attending. He says he knows why Trump has been talking about going to Mount Rushmore for a couple of years.
“He’s always seen Mount Rushmore for what it represents, which is the best our leaders did for our country and about the history of our country,” Lewandowski said.
Click above to listen to the full interview with KELO.com News Director Todd Epp.