White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, bashed as the face of the racist alt-right in the White House, is leaving the Trump administration, say news reports.
ABC News said a source close to the former Hollywood exec the resignation was effective on Aug. 14, exactly one year after he joined the Trump campaign.
“Trump had grown increasingly frustrated with Bannon, according to one senior White House official,” ABC News said.
“Bannon has clashed with virtually every top official in the White House. Atop his list of in-house detractors are senior adviser Jared Kushner, national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster and the new chief of staff, Gen. John Kelly.”
Business Insider noted Bannon’s series of interviews this week with The New York Times, The American Prospect and The Washington Post.
“It was in those interviews, particularly with The Prospect, that Bannon appeared to seal his fate, if he hadn’t already tenured his resignation,” BI said.
“Bannon lashed out at National Economic Council Chair Gary Cohn, contradicted the president on North Korea, and called the white nationalist movement a ‘collection of clowns’ and ‘losers.’ He also said he hopes Democrats ‘talk about racism every day.'”
Bannon said: “The longer they talk about identity politics, I got ’em. I want them to talk about racism every day. If the left is focused on race and identity, and we go with economic nationalism, we can crush the Democrats.”
Early coverage and commentary:
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.@PressSec on Bannon being removed from @WhiteHouse. https://t.co/zFQiTpqbd0 pic.twitter.com/VtvWlDsVvt
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 18, 2017
Getting rid of Bannon is more about optics than substance. Trump can’t fire the person causing his problems. Only 2/3 of congress can.
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 18, 2017
So if Bannon submitted his resignation two weeks ago and we’re just learning about it now, does that mean the leaks stopped?
— Josh Greenman (@joshgreenman) August 18, 2017
GOP source to me just now re Bannon: “Don’t believe the spin that he resigned two weeks ago.”
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 18, 2017
Someone should let Bannon’s former employer know about his white supremacist leanings so he can’t go back to work there.
— Moshe Kasher (@moshekasher) August 18, 2017
Bannon is OUT! A victory for all decent people who choose love over the hate and racism in Trump’s White House. https://t.co/uaGGH2Dqt1
— Friends of the Earth (@foe_us) August 18, 2017
Bannon’s departure is good for the White House, but it doesn’t rectify Trump’s failure to understand and protect our fundamental values.
— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) August 18, 2017
Bannon quit before he could be fired. Haha! Now you can’t get unemployment!!!!
— Robot Steve (@RobotSteve2016) August 18, 2017
Steve Bannon will be greatly missed – his contributions to our great nation are countless.
Just kidding he’s done nothing. Bye Forever pic.twitter.com/FtKxQqq4Ak
— Nate Lerner (@NathanLerner) August 18, 2017