Noem and Lewandowski have publicly denied the claims. Still, multiple insiders and onlookers have described moments they called "inappropriate," including an alleged Mar-a-Lago lap-sitting in December 2020 and affectionate behavior at GOP events through 2021.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Lewandowski was blocked from a formal chief of staff role amid the rumors but later served as a special government employee. Sources linked the situation to personnel changes, complaints about micromanaging, and even national security worries, with a former federal prosecutor warning the reports could create leverage risks. White House spokespeople have pushed back, calling such reports false.