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Donald Trump

FORT LAUDERDALE/CHARLOTTE. – Donald Trump’s campaign chairman Paul Manafort has resigned from his position on the campaign, the Republican presidential nominee said in a statement yesterday.“This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign,” Trump said. “I am very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us where we are today, and in particular his work guiding us through the delegate and convention process. Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success.”

A Trump source said Manafort told Trump he was becoming a distraction and he wanted to end that.

It’s the second high profile departure from the top of Trump’s campaign structure after campaign manager Corey Lewandowski left the operation earlier this summer. A new campaign manager and executive were named earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Trump made a rare act of contrition on Thursday, saying he regretted offending people with his harsh way of speaking.

The Republican nominee made the gesture at his first rally since ordering a shakeup in his campaign to save his struggling White House bid.

“Sometimes in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don’t choose the right words or you say the wrong thing,” Trump told a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I have done that. And believe it or not, I regret it,” he said, drawing laughs and applause from the crowd. “I do regret it. Particularly where it may have caused personal pain.”

He added: “Too much is at stake for us to be consumed with these issues, but one thing, I can promise you this: I will always tell you the truth.”

The New York billionaire’s multiple self-inflicted wounds of late have left him trailing in virtually every battleground state.

One of the biggest missteps was clashing repeatedly with the parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq.- CNN/AFP.