Trump Shakes Up Campaign Leadership

Breitbart News co-founder Stephen Bannon comes aboard
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 17, 2016 6:16 AM CDT
Trump Shakes Up Campaign Leadership
In this Jan. 24, 2013 file photo, Executive Producer Stephen Bannon poses at the premiere of "Sweetwater" during the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.   (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP, File)

Tuesday brought a series of "what the heck is he doing?" questions about Donald Trump's campaign amid reports that with less than 90 days to go, it had yet to spend a dime on ads, to Hillary Clinton's $61 million. Wednesday brings some big movements: The Wall Street Journal reports that ad spending has begun, with one set to air Friday in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania—and the Journal also reported some significant changes made to Trump's team to "bulk up" what has been criticized as a thin operation. The top echelon will be bolstered with the addition of Breitbart News co-founder/former Goldman Sachs banker Stephen Bannon, who will take on the newly created role of campaign CEO.

Kellyanne Conway, who previously worked for a pro-Ted Cruz super PAC, jumps from senior adviser to campaign manager. Paul Manafort, who NBC News reports has "unofficially" been operating as campaign manager since Corey Lewandowski's June ouster, retains his position as campaign chair. Trump explained the moves thusly: "I want to win. That’s why I’m bringing on fantastic people who know how to win and love to win." As for what the change-up represents, Politico reports that those close to a frustrated Manafort say his attempt to "instill message discipline in the candidate" has hit a wall. The Washington Post picks up on that thread, and reports that Trump is "rebuffing those efforts" in a bid to return to the "'let Trump be Trump' campaign culture" that flourished under Lewandowski. (More Election 2016 stories.)

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