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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 13 april 2017
Is Bannon in peril? Trump comments worry his populist base
JULIE BYKOWICZ mer as its chief executive
JILL COLVIN officer, he was informally
The Associated Press advising Trump.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- And as leader of the con-
dent Donald Trump has de- servative Breitbart News
clared: “I am my own strat- he spent the better part of
egist.” That would seem to a year connecting Trump
bode poorly for his actual with the populist, national-
strategist, Steve Bannon. ist voters who would propel
And Trump now appears him to victory over 16 Re-
to be publicly distancing publican opponents and
himself. Democrat Hillary Clinton.
In an interview with The In more than half a dozen
New York Post, the presi- interviews during the cam-
dent said “I like Steve” and paign with Bannon on Bre-
called his adviser “a good itbart’s radio show, Trump
guy” — but one who wasn’t laid out his vision for lead-
really all that involved with ing the country, with Ban-
his winning election cam- non sometimes playing the
paign. He said his warring role of coach.
senior officials, including Bannon, more than any
Bannon, must “straighten it other White House aide,
out or I will.” speaks the language of
In a second interview with President Donald Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon talks in the Rose Garden of the White Trump’s populist base. He
The Wall Street Journal, he House White House in Washington. Trump has declared: “I am my own strategist,” which would spoke in February of “our
dismissively called Bannon seem to bode poorly for his actual strategist, Steve Bannon. sovereignty” as a country
“a guy who works for me.” (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) and about the new admin-
The unusual public, luke- istration’s aim for “decon-
warm support from the struction of the administra-
boss has Bannon’s friends tive state.”
and advisers worried he will He also helped write many
soon be out of a job. of Trump’s hardest-line
But shedding Bannon speeches.
would be no simple staff “It would be a terrible sig-
shake-up. More than any nal if Trump were to either
other member of Trump’s force Bannon out or let him
orbit, the former media go because he is the face
executive and radio host, of the national populism
known as a bare-knuckle that inspired a lot of voter
political fighter, has a fol- to vote for Trump,” said
lowing all his own. Ned Ryun, founder of the
He is viewed by many in conservative group Ameri-
the conservative core as can Majority and a long-
the ideological backbone time friend of Bannon’s.
in a White House run by a “And what makes it even
president who boasts of his worse right now,” Ryun
flexibility. added, “is that people
“I think it’s important to have deep concerns
recognize the value of the about liberal New York
base.
It’s important to recognize Democrats associated with
the base sees their advo- Goldman Sachs coming in
cate in Steve Bannon,” and making strong moves
said Michael Caputo, a at the White House.”
former Trump campaign That view cuts to the core
adviser who has known the of why Bannon might be
president for decades. on the outs at the White
Bannon is not the only House.
Trump official to find him- He’s feuded with Trump’s
self in the hot seat in a son-in-law-turned-senior-
White House divided. adviser, Jared Kushner,
Press Secretary Sean Spicer and with economic chief
has also come under fire Gary Cohn. Both are New
for comments he made Yorkers who have voted
about the Holocaust on for Democrats. Cohn, the
Tuesday. Spicer has apolo- former No. 2 at Goldman
gized repeatedly, includ- Sachs, and fellow Gold-
ing on Wednesday, and man executive Dina Pow-
the White House hopes ell, one of Trump’s top
that controversy will pass. national security advisers,
As for Bannon, before join- have been gaining favor
ing the campaign last sum- with the president.q
