Lewandowski defends Trump even after ouster 'It's been an honor and privilege to be part of this.'

Donald Trump's ousted campaign manager stayed loyal to his boss even after his firing Monday, as Corey Lewandowski did multiple cable TV interviews Monday in which he praised his boss, rejected reports of internal discord within the campaign and continued to project the campaign's message.

"I had a nice conversation with Mr. Trump and said to him, it's been an honor and privilege to be part of this and I mean that for the bottom of my heart," Lewandowski told CNN's Dana Bash. "I think as you look at how small this team has been and how close knit this team has been, it's really important to know there are highs and lows in every campaign and we've been through them together and we need to continue with the [Republican National Committee] to utilize the resources they have available to us. It's been a great privilege, and look, I wouldn't change one second."


Asked why he was fired, Lewandowski said that he did not know.

"One of the raps on you is that you fed his worst instincts," Bash said.

"Anybody who knows me and has known me over a long period of time knows I'm a very straight shooter," Lewandowski replied, calling it a characteristic that has worked to his "own detriment on many occasions."

"I tell people the way it is, whether it’s good or bad or indifferent. Because I always say I'm not smart enough to lie, ‘cause I can't remember the lie I told. So what I say is I give you my best opinion and recommendation. That my duty and obligation to anybody I work for, whether it’s Mr. Trump or a different company," he continued. "All I can do is give my best advice and counsel. Doesn’t mean it’s right, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. But I’m going to give you my best advice and if my best advice is something you agree with, great. And if you disagree, that's OK, too. And we have had many conversations where Mr. Trump and I have either agreed or disagreed but at the end of the day, I don't take it personally. I just give my best advice, and that’s the job of any good staffer."

As far as whether he felt surprised or blindsided by the decision, Lewandowski demurred.

"I don't know if it's so much of that. It's been a lot of conjecture in the media lately about what's going on well and what isn't going on well in the campaign," Lewandowski told CNN. "I think a lot of that is just the media trying to hype up a campaign," he said in reference to Hillary Clinton.

Trump does not get proper attention or credit, Lewandowski suggested. "Even when he gives a great policy speech, he's probably the best speaker that our country has ever seen for a presidential candidate," the ousted manager said.

"I think what you have is an opportunity to expand. Mr. Trump brought millions of people into the Republican Party. We see independents who haven’t voted in 20 or 30 years coming out, massive rallies, crowds," Lewandowski said in an interview aired on MSNBC.

"Look, those people are so energized. So I think it’s very important. But what are you going up against now is a Hillary Clinton machine, it’s four more years of Obama administration. They’ve got a massive operation, they’ve got, you know, I think she’s raised $800 million so far. They're going to have all the resources in the world to go and talk about the liberal agenda."

"Were you escorted out of the building by security today?" Bash asked, to which the former campaign manager responded, "It doesn't work like that. Obviously, there are protocols in place so when someone is no longer an employee, there's no escorting out. Look, I've had the privilege of working with these people for 19 months. They're friends of mine but there's a protocol and everyone follows the same protocol regardless of who it is and I think that's the right thing."

"It wasn't security; it was a friend from the office," Lewandowski said.

Asked about a tweet from Michael Caputo, Trump's New York state director, which alluded to his firing by comparing him to the Wicked Witch of the East, Lewandowski chalked it up to the nature of the campaign.

"Talk to the people who have been here from the beginning," he told CNN. "The people who have been in the trenches, who understand and have seen Mr. Trump's work ethic and what he's been able to accomplish whether it's new Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa, those states where no one gave him a chance and he became successful and became the Republican nominee. I think if you asked them, they'd stand toe to toe with me any day of the week and 20 hours a day to make sure that they had the same work ethic I do and I think that's what I try to foster with the people I've worked with. "

On reports that Trump's family played a role in orchestrating his ouster, particularly Ivanka Trump's husband, Jared Kushner, Lewandowski was dubious to both MSNBC and CNN.

"I can say I've had a great relationship with the family and I think I continue to do so," Lewandowski remarked too CNN. "Look. Everybody has their own opinions and I think what you have is a transition in the campaign from a very, very successful 37-state primary victory process managed at a one-off level ... to look to a bigger picture. That's okay. There's nothing wrong with that. More ideas, people giving iput, that's great, important. I'm an implementer. That's what I try to do. Take the ideas laid out and implement them to the best of our ability and most important thing and that includes the kids' input, other professionals input, it includes elected officials, it includes the D.C. people's input. I try to implement what the collective organization is best for the campaign."

On Kushner specifically, Lewandowski said he has had a "great relationship," and "I'm not sure where that's coming from."

"Ivanka Trump?" Bash asked. "Great asset to the campaign," Lewandowski said.

Bash followed up, "Would you be surprised if you heard she was not thrilled with the job that you were doing?"

"I don't think that's the case," Lewandowski said. "I think Ivanka is somebody who understands her father and a fantastic surrogate for this campaign, she brings a sense of calmness to the campaign. She has a way about her that she connects immediately not just with women but with business executives. She's so polished, so professional. It's been an honor to be able work with her for the last 18 months."

Asked his biggest regret, Lewandowski was unequivocal: "None professionally."

"None? That's not even — I know that you're human," Bash said, touching Lewandowski's arm. "There's flesh and blood. You've got to have some regrets."

Overall, Lewandowski said his "biggest regret was not being able to have my family more involved."

"My family lives in New Hampshire. I've got four young children," he remarked. "Campaigns are so all-consuming, they're so time consuming, it's difficult to go home and explain what your day was like."

But that is "not a regret at all," Lewandowski was quick to add.

"I have no regrets as it comes to this campaign. I've been given such an opportunity and a privilege and if somebody said to me 18 months ago, you'll be managing the candidate through 37 state victories, 14 million votes, more votes than anyone in the history of the Republican Party, I’d say, is that possible? Look what he's been able to achieve and I'm a small part of that," Lewandowski said. "So I have no regrets at all."