Steve Bannon Fired as White House Chief Strategist
Steve Bannon has been fired as the White House Chief Strategist.
He is the latest top aide of President Donald Trump to leave his post.
On August 18, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed that Friday was Steve Bannon’s last day.
His exit follows a review of his position by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.
Steve Bannon, a right-wing nationalist and former head of Breitbart.com, helped shape the “America First” message of Donald Trump’s election campaign.
However, critics had accused him of harboring anti-Semitic and white supremacist views.
Image source Flickr
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Steve Bannon is known to have competed for influence in the West Wing against more moderate factions, including members of the Trump family.
President Trump fuelled speculation when asked last week about Steve Bannon’s future as he replied: “We’ll see.”
Steve Bannon’s interview this week with the American Prospect, a liberal magazine, reportedly infuriated the president.
He was quoted as dismissing the idea of a military solution in North Korea, undercutting President Trump.
He told the magazine the US was “at economic war with China” and that he aimed to push out moderates whom he believed were soft on China.
Steve Bannon told associates he thought it was an off-the-record chat and didn’t realize he would be quoted.
He has pushed for imposing additional tariffs on China and other trade partners to reduce deficits with those countries.
Steve Bannon also advocated for a travel ban on citizens of certain Muslim-majority countries.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ statement said: “White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Steve Bannon have mutually agreed today would be Steve’s last day.
“We are grateful for his service and wish him the best.”
Source familiar with the decision said Steve Bannon had been given the chance to leave on his own terms.
Steve Bannon took over as chief of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in August 2016.
He was formerly a US Navy officer, Goldman Sachs investment banker, Hollywood movie producer and head of Breitbart News.
Steve Bannon has reportedly told friends he could go back to the right-wing outlet that has boisterously supported Donald Trump.
In a potentially worrying sign for the White House, Breitbart‘s senior editor-at-large Joel Pollak tweeted: “#WAR”.