Trump, who has been accused of offending Mexicans, Muslims, immigrants, the disabled and fellow Republicans such as John McCain during his 14-month presidential campaign did not specify which comments he regretted and said at one point that journalists have often taken him “out of context”.
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Eric Trump, in an interview with FOX News Channel’s Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo on Friday, said the spotlight on Manafort figured in his resignation. Trump’s first campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, exited in June after Manafort was brought on to help smooth Trump’s path to the Republican National Convention in July where he was formally nominated. “I wish him the greatest success”, Trump said.
Bannon’s hiring, along with the promotion of pollster Kellyanne Conway to campaign manager, were both seen as demotions for Manafort, who has come under heavy criticism of late for alleged ties to pro-Russian elements in Ukraine.
Emails between Manafort’s deputy, Rick Gates, also a top Trump adviser, and the lobbying firm Mercury LLC showed that Manafort’s firm, DMP International LLC, directly orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraine’s then-ruling political party.
With the announcement that Paul Manafort has resigned as Donald Trump’s campaign manager, and that his chief aide Rick Gates has decamped along with him, it’s becoming increasingly hard to view the operation run out of Trump Tower as an actual political campaign.
In addition, Steve Bannon, the executive chairman of Breitbart News, was appointed as the new chief executive of his campaign.
The Times also published a story, citing unnamed Trump associates, that portrayed a flagging campaign and Manafort’s efforts to get the candidate to tone down his rhetoric and pivot toward a message that appealed to a wider audience.
Reading from prepared remarks to a crowd in North Carolina, Trump said, “Sometimes, in the heat of the debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don’t choose the right words or you say the wrong thing. You can get rid of Manafort, but that doesn’t end the odd “bromance” Trump has with Putin”.
“The money was transferred in cash and it is impossible to trace the transactions, but I have no doubt as to the authenticity of these documents”, he said.
Manafort had presided over a period in which Trump had fallen behind in opinion poll numbers in the race against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for the November 8 election.
The foundation has proved controversial for Clinton, with her campaign denying that foundation donors received special treatment while she was Secretary of State. “I have done that”, Trump said.
Manafort was hired by Trump in March as a convention manager, tasked with helping Trump secure the Republican nomination.
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This week was the second major change in Trump campaign leadership. “I do regret it”.
