President Trump is reportedly considering enlisting Paul Manafort, his former campaign manager whom he pardoned, as a campaign adviser later this year, according to four individuals familiar with the discussions.
The discussions primarily revolve around the 2024 Republican convention in Milwaukee scheduled for July and could involve Manafort contributing to fundraising efforts for the presumed GOP nominee's campaign. While a formal decision has not been reached, these sources, speaking anonymously to discuss confidential talks, anticipate Manafort's hiring and assert that Trump is keen on reintegrating him into the campaign.
Paul Manafort previously worked for Trump in 2016 before his dismissal and subsequent conviction on tax and bank fraud charges as part of Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Manafort served a prison sentence before being pardoned in the waning days of Trump's presidency.
Trump reportedly feels a sense of loyalty to Manafort due to the latter's prison sentence, as Manafort has remained loyal to and spoken positively about Trump in both public and private settings. According to sources close to Trump, the president frequently expresses dissatisfaction with the Mueller investigation and argues that Manafort's prosecution was unjust.
Manafort's national political career began in 1975 when he was appointed as the associate director for personnel for President Gerald Ford. He collaborated closely with James A. Baker, then the chief of Ford's campaign, whom he regarded as a mentor.
Manafort gained prominence in 1976 by assisting Ford in securing the Republican nomination during a fiercely contested convention. He subsequently served as a convention adviser for Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign and managed convention operations for GOP presidential nominee Robert J. Dole in 1996.
