Adviser leaves Trump team over campaign’s ‘direction’

The Donald Trump presidential campaign and adviser Roger Stone have parted ways.

The Trump campaign claimed that it fired Stone, while Stone said he resigned. The split, reportedly over several controversies rocking the billionaire Republican’s bid for the White House, came on Saturday.

Another Trump adviser, Sam Nunberg, was fired from the campaign a week ago over racist and incendiary Facebook posts.

Stone sent an email to Trump’s secretary early Saturday afternoon, according to Politico, which obtained a copy of the letter of resignation.

“I was proud to have played a role in the launch of your presidential campaign,” Stone’s email said. “Unfortunately, the current controversies involving personalities and provocative media fights have reached such a high volume that it has distracted attention from your platform and overwhelmed your core message. With this current direction of the candidacy, I no longer can remain involved in your campaign.”

Stone worked on Ronald Reagan’s first presidential campaign and as a fundraiser for Richard Nixon in 1972.