Donald Trump has come under fire for naming three former Goldman Sachs executives to his administration, and, according to Forbes, Trump’s Cabinet appointees are worth a combined $4.5 billion. | AP Photo Trump corrects Gingrich: We'll always be trying to drain the swamp

Donald Trump reclaimed his mantra Thursday to “drain the swamp.”

“Someone incorrectly stated that the phrase ‘DRAIN THE SWAMP’ was no longer being used by me,” the president-elect tweeted. “Actually, we will always be trying to DTS.”


That someone is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The top Trump ally told NPR on Wednesday that Trump was distancing himself from his campaign pledge to drain the swamp of Washington corruption as he transitions into the White House.

“I’m told he now just disclaims that. He now says it was cute, but he doesn't want to use it anymore,” he said.

Gingrich added that Trump likely feels “that he should be marginally more dignified than talking about alligators in swamps.” Apparently, however, he doesn’t.

The former Georgia congressman admitted he “goofed” Thursday, posting to Twitter that Trump will, indeed, drain the swamp, “and the alligators should be worried.”

“I wanna report that I made a big boo-boo,” Gingrich said in a 47-second video accompanying his tweet. “I talked this morning with President-elect Donald Trump, and he reminded me that he likes draining the swamp. I mischaracterized it the other day. He intends to drain the swamp.”

Despite his vow to drain the swamp — a catchphrase he repeatedly told supporters he never thought would catch on — the early version of Trump’s transition team was full of lobbyists. For its part, though, Trump’s team later imposed a firm lobbying ban.

The president-elect has also come under fire for naming three former Goldman Sachs executives to his administration, and, according to Forbes, Trump’s Cabinet appointees are worth a combined $4.5 billion.

Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s first campaign manager, launched a lobbying firm Wednesday with former Trump adviser Barry Bennett. Lewandowski told POLITICO on Wednesday that his new firm, Avenue Strategies, doesn’t conflict with Trump’s message because the phrase refers to bureaucracy, not people profiting on government contracts.

All five points of Trump’s plan to drain the swamp involved lobbying, though, and none, in fact, mentioned bureaucracy.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, the former registered lobbyist stressed that his aim isn’t to “become a swamp creature” or a lobbyist.

“If I can be a resource to corporations who want to get a fast answer from the government and not a long maybe, I think that’s a value add that I can potentially provide,” Lewandowski said. “So look, that’s what the goal is here. The goal isn’t to go and become a swamp creature or to become a lobbyist. I'm not going to be a lobbyist. It’s not going to happen.”