Corey Lewandowski's Lucrative Cameo Side Hustle Amid DHS Role Sparks Outrage
Corey Lewandowski, a longtime loyalist to former President Donald Trump, is capitalising on his political connections through paid video messages on the platform Cameo, even as he exercises unprecedented influence within the Department of Homeland Security. This dual role has ignited serious ethical and security concerns among government officials.
Moonlighting as a Pitchman During Government Shutdown
While Border Patrol and TSA agents worked without pay during the longest government shutdown in US history, Lewandowski was actively recording personalized videos for businesses and individuals willing to pay upwards of $500 per clip. His last recorded paid video was dispatched on Halloween, a time when over one million federal employees faced financial hardship due to the shutdown.
Lewandowski serves at DHS under the designation of a 'special government employee,' a status that exempts him from disclosing his finances. This role was granted by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, with whom he is rumoured to have a personal relationship. Despite lacking a formal title, he wields considerable authority, including approving six-figure contracts and participating in classified meetings.
Camp David Jacket and Presidential Connections
In one particularly notable video from June 2025, Lewandowski appears wearing an official-looking government jacket bearing the presidential seal and the words 'Presidential Retreat. Camp David.' He used this backdrop to wish a boy named Owen a happy birthday, referencing his role as Trump's 2016 campaign manager.
This video was recorded shortly after Trump met with military leaders at Camp David to discuss anti-immigration enforcement riots in Los Angeles. It remains unclear whether Lewandowski attended that meeting or simply filmed the video at the location, but the imagery has raised eyebrows about the propriety of using government associations for personal gain.
Ethical Violations and Counterintelligence Risks
Officials within Homeland Security and the State Department have expressed alarm over Lewandowski's activities. One DHS official noted that while his special government employee status does not require authorization for outside employment, using his access to the President may violate the Hatch Act, which restricts partisan political activities by government employees.
A State Department official highlighted even graver concerns, stating that Lewandowski's Cameo account poses 'a serious counterintelligence risk.' The platform allows anonymous users to submit custom instructions, potentially enabling foreign intelligence services or global companies to probe for sensitive details or establish communication patterns with a senior DHS official for as little as $50.
'DHS isn't a gig economy platform. National security isn't pay per view either,' the official added, criticising the institutional recklessness of allowing such unfettered access.Charity Claims and Questionable Content
Lewandowski defended his Cameo involvement by claiming that revenue from his first 45 videos was donated to families of fallen military and law enforcement officers. However, when pressed by the Daily Mail to specify which charities have received funds since he joined Homeland Security, he did not respond.
His Cameo biography promotes videos that 'roast liberal friends' and encourage support for the 'America First agenda,' blending political messaging with paid endorsements. Examples include a $500 marketing video for an HVAC company called Air Scientist Solutions, where he praised the CEO's 'American spirit,' and a bizarre 2020 video where he encouraged a child named Mickey during toilet training—later revealed to be a prank by a Boston comedian.
Internal Feuds and Expanding Power
Amid these controversies, Lewandowski finds himself at the centre of internal DHS conflicts. Sources indicate he is locked in a bitter feud with Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, over the enforcement of mass deportation policies. This power struggle has deepened divisions within the agency, pitting Noem-aligned officials against those loyal to Homan.
Further reports from December revealed that Lewandowski pressured ICE officials to provide him with a badge and gun, even demanding it during interviews for potential ICE director candidates. These actions underscore his extensive, albeit unofficial, influence within the nation's largest law enforcement agency.
The total earnings from Lewandowski's Cameo videos since the start of the Trump administration remain unknown, but his ability to profit from his government role while avoiding financial disclosure continues to fuel allegations of corruption and ethical breaches at the highest levels of Homeland Security.
