By President Trump fired his former chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, on Friday, Aug. 18.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed in a statement Bannon’s removal. “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.”
Bannon’s departure came only a few weeks after White House Chief of Staff John Kelly was recruited to bring control to a divided White House.
Bannon was an influential individual in the Trump campaign and administration, but there were concerns that he was frustrating the president with some of his actions. On April 11, Trump told the New York Post, “I am my own strategist,” and he told the Wall Street Journal that Bannon was just “a guy who works for me.” The remarks toward Bannon were unusual, considering that Bannon was his Chief Strategist.
Bannon’s departure came only a few weeks after White House Chief of Staff John Kelly was recruited to bring control to a divided White House.
Additionally, Bannon gave an interview on Aug. 15 to Prospect Magazine where he contradicted President Trump’s policy on North Korea, saying there was no military solution for the country.
Despite Bannon’s removal, his presence in the White House was significant. Bannon was initially the executive chairman of a far right, alt-right news network called Breitbart News, an anti-establishment news network. Bannon was an early, strong support of Trump’s candidacy. Then in August of 2016, Bannon was named the Trump campaign’s chief executive, and in November he preceded to become Trump’s Chief Strategist in the White House. Bannon will return to Breitbart News, much to the happiness of Democrats and a few Republicans.