Trump Names Brad Parscale His 2020 Campaign Manager

• February 27 2018
• Toluse Olorunnipa, Jennifer Jacobs

President Donald Trump has tapped his former digital director Brad Parscale to be campaign manager for his 2020 re-election bid, his campaign announced Tuesday.

President Donald Trump has tapped his former digital director Brad Parscale to be campaign manager for his 2020 re-election bid, his campaign announced Tuesday.

Parscale, web director of the San Antonio, Texas-based firm Giles Parscale, worked to advertise Trump’s campaign online and on social media in 2016. He’s been a target of House Democrats, who have sought information on any potential coordination with online interference by Russia.

“Brad was essential in bringing disciplined technology and data-driven approach to how the 2016 campaign was run,” Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, said in a statement. “His leadership and expertise” will help build “a best-in-class campaign.”

Trump’s choice keeps his 2020 efforts tied to an aspect of his 2016 campaign that has been the subject of scrutiny after Russians were accused of using social media to interfere in the election. Parscale was scheduled to meet privately in October with the House Intelligence Committee.

In July, Parscale sent out a tweet with a statement saying, “I am unaware of any Russian involvement in the digital and data operations of the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.”

He also said, “The Trump digital campaign used the exact same digital and marketing strategies that are used every day by corporate America.”

In his tweet, Parscale said digital marketing specialists from social-media companies worked “side-by-side” with campaign teams from Giles-Parscale, the Republican National Committee, and Cambridge Analytica, a data firm backed by allies of the president, “to run a professional and winning campaign.”

Trump has repeatedly said he would seek re-election in 2020. His decision to name Parscale campaign manager was reported earlier by the Drudge Report and the Associated Press.

Last year, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that lawmakers want Cambridge Analytica to provide a description of any communications with Russian government officials, or their representatives, to identify potential voters for “targeted advertising, marketing or social media contact” in support of the Trump campaign.

Cambridge Analytica has denied any improper contacts with Russia. 

— With assistance by Billy House