Donald Trump's campaign chairman has quit two days after he was sidelined in a reshuffle for the stumbling White House bid.

In a statement, Mr Trump said Mr Manafort had offered his resignation on Friday morning - just two months after taking the job.

The Republican nominee praised Mr Manafort's work and called him a "true professional".

On Wednesday, the campaign overhauled its management for the second time in as many months, adding two new top officials in a move widely seen as a demotion for Mr Manafort.

Image: Paul Manafort (R) with new Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway

Allegations have emerged this week that Mr Manafort had received payments from the political party of the Kremlin-backed former leader of Ukraine.


Mr Manafort was working as a consultant in 2012 on behalf of Ukraine's then-president, Viktor Yanukovich.

Mr Manafort denies claims he received cash payments worth more than $12m over five years that were itemised on secret ledgers.

Donald Trump's First TV Campaign Ad

The Trump campaign turmoil came as his team released its first campaign ad for November's White House election against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

In the 30-second spot, Two Americas: Immigration, a male narrator warns that Syrian refugees will inundate the US unless Mr Trump is elected president.

"In Hillary Clinton's America, the system stays rigged against Americans," claims the voice, over a track of doom-laden music.

Donald Trump: Would You Vote For Him?

"Syrian refugees flood in, illegal immigrants convicted of committing crimes get to stay, collecting Social Security benefits, skipping the line. Our border open."

The music turns uplifting as the narrator says: "Donald Trump's America is secure.

"Terrorists and dangerous criminals: kept out. The border: secure. Our families: safe."

Image: A passerby in San Francisco looks shocked as she inspects a naked statue of Donald Trump. The scale figures were placed in cities across the US by art collective Indecline Image: Indecline has called the project 'The Emperor Has No Balls' Image: This statue in San Francisco prompted a stunned reaction from people passing by Image: Many posed for pictures with the statues, which were placed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cleveland, Seattle and New York City Image: Trump's campaign slogan - Make America Great Again - was parodied for this snap in San Francisco Image: Indecline commissioned Las Vegas artist Ginger to create the figures. Ginger also designs "monsters for haunted houses and horror movies" Image: This statue was placed in New York City's Union Square Park Image: When asked what he thought of the work, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said: "When he's wearing clothes I don't like him" Image: New York City Department of Parks and Recreation sent workers to remove the statue, which was ripped off its base and loaded onto the back of a pickup truck Image: In a playful statement, the department said: "NYC Parks stands firmly against any unpermitted erection in city parks, no matter how small". Image: The model's feet were initially left behind in Union Square Park Image: Park workers clear away what was left of the Trump statue /

The campaign says it will spend nearly $5m to run the ad in Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida, four pivotal battleground states.

The Clinton campaign and her supporters have so far outspent Trump 15-1 on television ads.

In the past week, Mr Trump has abandoned his shoot-from-the-hip style, instead using a teleprompter at every rally.

Trump Regrets 'Saying The Wrong Things'

Late on Thursday, during a speech in Charlotte, North Carolina, he expressed regrets for unspecified past remarks.

He told a crowd: "Sometimes, in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don't choose the right words or you say the wrong thing.

"I have done that, and I regret it, particularly where it may have caused personal pain."

On Friday, Mr Trump went to Louisiana to survey flood damage that killed at least 13 people.