Jeff Zucker Thinks Corey Lewandowski Has ‘Done A Really Nice Job’ At CNN

Corey Lewandowski, campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, waits before the start of a foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Trump's highl... Corey Lewandowski, campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, waits before the start of a foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Trump's highly anticipated foreign policy speech Wednesday will test whether the Republican presidential front-runner, known for his raucous rallies and eyebrow-raising statements, can present a more presidential persona as he works to unite the GOP establishment behind him. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) MORE LESS
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CNN president Jeff Zucker had only good things to say about former Trump campaign manager and newly-minted CNN commentator Corey Lewandowski in an interview with Variety published Tuesday.

“The reason we hired Corey is that now that we are in the general election, I think it’s really important to have voices on CNN who are supportive of the Republican nominee,” Zucker said. “It’s hard to find a lot of those.”

He disagreed with criticism that Lewandowski continues to act as a Trump campaign spokesman rather than an analyst.

“I actually think he’s done a really nice job,” Zucker added, according to Variety. “He’s come under a much greater spotlight because of who he is, and the relationship he’s had with the media. As a result, people are going to be more critical.”

Lewandowski became infamous after a physical run-in with a female reporter covering one of Trump’s press conferences earlier this year, and had a reported history of bullying and other inappropriate behavior. He was fired from the Trump campaign in June and joined CNN as a salaried political commentator days later.

His hiring caused a stir when Lewandowski refused to discuss the circumstances of his dismissal and the possibility that he had signed a non-disclosure agreement while in Trump’s employ, which would prevent him from disparaging the candidate. Lewandowski has since defended his former boss on air, even taking a phone call from Trump while on set.

h/t Politico

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