Steve Bannon out

Steve Bannon, the White House Chief Strategist, has announced that he has left his post in the White House.

According to corroborating media reports, he was pushed out of the White House by the administration.

Background

Steve Bannon has often been cited as one of the driving forces behind Donald Trump’s successful presidential campaign. Before joining the campaign in August 2016, he was the Executive Chairman of a news agency called the Breitbart News. By his own volition, the news portal can be considered as a “
platform for the alt-right.”

He has incurred criticism voicing controversial sentiments and for rallying against “globalists”. He has been openly critical of Islam and Muslims and has alleged ties to white supremacist groups. He has often found himself warring with members inside the Trump administration. Reports have emerged of his tense relations with Senior White House Advisor, Jared Kushner and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster. Former Trump administration member, Anthony Scaramucci, has openly criticized him.

Analysis

The US media started reporting early in August that Bannon had fallen out of favor with the President. Rumors began spreading that his job within the White House was in jeopardy. On August 18^th, 2017, it was announced that he would leave the White House. According to Bannon, the decision to leave was mutual. In a statement he noted, “On August 7^th, I talked to [Chief of Staff John] Kelly and to the President, and I told them that my resignation would be effective the following Monday, on the 14^th. I’d always planned on spending one year. General Kelly has brought in a great new system, but I said it would be best. I want to get back to Breitbart.”

Having left the administration, he has returned to Breitbart News to resume his old duties. He has warned that he will be using his considerable resources to wage a “war” against those whom he perceives as “enemies” to Trump. In an interview right after he resigned, he said, “If there’s any confusion out there, let me clear it up: I’m leaving the White House and going to war for Trump against his opponents -- on capitol hill, in the media, and in corporate America.”

Assessment

Our assessment is that Steve Bannon’s resignation could create further fractions within the country. America as a nation has been deeply divided since the elections. By using platform to “attack” the enemies of the President, most of whom are citizens of the United States, he might further damage to the nation’s psyche.