Michael Hernandez
August 19, 2016•Update: August 21, 2016
WASHINGTON
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign chairman resigned Friday amid continued campaign troubles.
Trump said in a statement that he accepted Paul Manafort’s resignation Friday morning, and that he is “very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us where we are today.”
Manafort has only been on the job for two months after Trump fired former manager Corey Lewandowski in June.
Manafort faced severe criticism after media reports alleged Thursday that he lobbied on behalf of foreign governments, including Ukraine’s now-deposed Russian-backed government, without disclosing that he was working as an agent of a foreign government.
While lobbying on behalf of foreign governments is not illegal, disclosure is required under federal law.
Trump’s campaign has struggled in recent weeks as Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton has widened her lead across the nation to an average of about nine points in polls.
In a sign that Trump is seeking to close the gap, he made a rare apologetic statement Thursday, telling a campaign rally in North Carolina that he has sometimes “said the wrong thing” during his campaign, and “believe it or not, I regret it.”
It’s unclear which of his inflammatory statements Trump was referring to, but he said he particularly regretted statements that “may have caused personal pain.”
His campaign announced on Wednesday a personnel reshuffling that saw conservative news outlet Breitbart chairman Stephen Bannon made campaign CEO and pollster Kellyanne Conway assume the campaign manager spot.
Trump is currently in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he is touring neighborhoods that have been ravaged by historic flooding.
