President Donald Trump is replacing campaign manager Brad Parscale with veteran GOP operative Bill Stepien, as more and more polls show rival Joe Biden opening up a significant early lead in the race for the White House, Fox News informed.
The move announced Wednesday night came days after an article in The Washington Post portrayed Parscale as self-promoting and aloof, noting that he featured prominently in an early Trump campaign ad — and that staffers complained he often took calls by his swimming pool at home.
“I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump Campaign Manager,” Trump explained on Facebook. “Brad Parscale, who has been with me for a very long time and has led our tremendous digital and data strategies, will remain in that role, while being a Senior Advisor to the campaign.”
Trump added: “Both were heavily involved in our historic 2016 win, and I look forward to having a big and very important second win together. This one should be a lot easier as our poll numbers are rising fast, the economy is getting better, vaccines and therapeutics will soon be on the way, and Americans want safe streets and communities!”
Two top campaign officials clarified to Fox News that “there are not two campaign managers,” and that Stepien will have total executive control.
A source within the campaign told Fox News late Wednesday that the announcement came as a surprise and that people were “shocked.” A senior administration official, however, shot back: “They shouldn’t be. Had to happen.”
“This doesn’t surprise anyone who knows POTUS and how he wants his campaign run,” the official said.
A GOP operative close to the Trump campaign, meanwhile, told Fox News that “Bill [Stepien]’s MO is to keep under the radar and keep his head down and stay focused on the job. So if anything, all the attention he’s gotten probably makes him a little uncomfortable… he knows his role is to be the guy behind the guy.”
Contrasting Stepien with Parscale, the operative said: “I don’t think you’re going to see Bill Stepien going up on stage at a Trump rally and throwing out hats.”
Parscale ran Trump’s digital advertising in 2016 and was credited with helping bring about his surprise victory. Stepien has been in politics for years, working for former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and serving as Trump’s national field director in 2016.
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