Mr. Donald Trump replaces campaign manager Brad Parscale with Bill Stepien, according to the NYT

An American digital consultant Brad Parscale’s abrupt demotion Wednesday night “shocked” some inside the Trump campaign, sources familiar with the move told HDT, even as President Trump’s sliding poll numbers and the recent Tulsa rally debacle had raised questions about his future.

See Also: 'The View co-host Meghan McCain argues that 'any other Republican candidate would have done this very well'

The president announced on Facebook and later on Twitter Wednesday night that Parscale would be replaced as campaign manager by Bill Stepien, who had served as deputy campaign manager.

Parscale, who ran Trump’s digital advertising in 2016 and was promoted to Trump’s right hand man for the 2020 cycle, is expected to shift back to his previous role.

Two top campaign officials told HDT that Parscale will serve as a senior advisor focusing entirely on the campaign’s digital operation and data collection.

See Also: "The View" co-host Meghan McCain claims push to 'defund the police' is helping Trump reelection bid

Speculation has swirled for weeks about Parscale’s future, as Trump has fallen behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden by double digits in multiple polls, and as the campaign struggled to fill seats for the president’s rally last month in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

A source familiar with the situation said that Parscale indeed had been losing influence as of late with other campaign officials exerting more power, including Stepien, who joined the campaign in May as deputy campaign manager after serving as a political director at the White House. There was also the return of Stephanie Alexander, who was on the campaign in 2016 and returned in May as campaign chief of staff.

Still, multiple sources told HDT that many expected Parscale to stay through the election, and that Wednesday night’s announcement came as a “surprise” and that many were “shocked.”

“They shouldn’t be,” a senior administration official told HDT. “Had to happen.”

The official added: “This doesn’t surprise anyone who knows POTUS and how he wants his campaign run.”

Stepien, before joining the campaign and the Trump administration, previously managed both of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s gubernatorial campaigns. Stepien also served as Christie’s deputy chief of staff.

See Also: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says ‘no’ regrets after initial downplaying of coronavirus earlier this year

One source familiar with the move told HDT that Stepien is a "really hard worker," while another said he is "married to his job."

Parscale, who ran Trump’s digital advertising in 2016 and was promoted to Trump’s right hand man for the 2020 cycle, is expected to shift back to his previous role.

Two top campaign officials told HDT that Parscale will serve as a senior advisor focusing entirely on the campaign’s digital operation and data collection.

Speculation has swirled for weeks about Parscale’s future, as Trump has fallen behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden by double digits in multiple polls, and as the campaign struggled to fill seats for the president’s rally last month in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

A source familiar with the situation said that Parscale indeed had been losing influence as of late with other campaign officials exerting more power, including Stepien, who joined the campaign in May as deputy campaign manager after serving as a political director at the White House. There was also the return of Stephanie Alexander, who was on the campaign in 2016 and returned in May as campaign chief of staff.

Still, multiple sources told HDT that many expected Parscale to stay through the election, and that Wednesday night’s announcement came as a “surprise” and that many were “shocked.”

“They shouldn’t be,” a senior administration official told HDT. “Had to happen.”

The official added: “This doesn’t surprise anyone who knows POTUS and how he wants his campaign run.”

Stepien, before joining the campaign and the Trump administration, previously managed both of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s gubernatorial campaigns. Stepien also served as Christie’s deputy chief of staff.

One source familiar with the move told HDT that Stepien is a "really hard worker," while another said he is "married to his job."

“Bill’s MO is to keep under the radar and keep his head down and stay focused on the job. So if anything, all the attention he’s gotten probably makes him a little uncomfortable," another Republican operative told HDT. "He knows his role is to be the guy behind the guy.”

The operative added that the campaign was looking for someone who was a "strong" and "experienced operative."

"Brad is the best in the business when it comes to data but he’s not a political operative," the operative explained. "Stepien is one of the best political operatives in the country and innately understands data and field and its integration and how to use that to move votes.”

The president announced the shake-up Wednesday night in a statement on social media.

“I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump Campaign Manager,” the president said in a statement. “Brad Parscale, who has been with me for a very long time and has led our tremendous digital and data strategies, will remain in that role, while being a Senior Advisor to the campaign.”

The president added that both Parscale and Stepien “were heavily involved in our historic 2016 win, and I look forward to having a big and very important second win together.”

"This one should be a lot easier as our poll numbers are rising fast, the economy is getting better, vaccines and therapeutics will soon be on the way, and Americans want safe streets and communities!” the president added.

Trump isn’t dumping Parscale altogether. He notes that he’ll be in charge of digital and data strategies for the campaign, as well as remain a senior adviser to the campaign.

With all the bad press Trump has been getting lately with respect to his campaign performance, I had a feeling something like this was coming. We see it all the time with floundering campaigns, who make a big announcement like this to start over and get things in back gear.