As Donald Trump’s chief strategist, Steve Bannon already holds a pretty important place in the White House. But with his new promotion to a role on the National Security Council (NSC), his influence on the country is about to get a whole lot greater – and people aren’t particularly happy about it.
The former executive chairman of Breitbart News has been criticised for his links to the alt-right and has been a major proponent of some of Trump’s more extreme executive orders – including the controversial travel ban.
On Saturday, Trump signed a memorandum giving Bannon (along with his chief of staff Reince Priebus) a permanent position on the NSC – a highly unusual move.
Since when does the Breitbart guy know more about national security than the Joint Chiefs and the CIA? Never! #StopPresidentBannon
— Ed Turner (@papabear7533) January 29, 2017
Chairman of Joint Chiefs and DNI treated as after thoughts in Cabinet level principals meetings. And where is CIA?? Cut out of everything?
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) January 29, 2017
Many people are worried Bannon is exerting a huge amount of power over President Trump’s decisions – and #StopPresidentBannon started trending.
Dear @POTUS @realDonaldTrump We all know who is really in charge. You're already illegitimate, now you're unnecessary. #StopPresidentBannon
— Rogue Val (@satx_valerie) January 29, 2017
Feel bad for @RealDonaldTrump
Worked hard to become president and he's not really in charge. Not tremendous. Very sad #StopPresidentBannon— rob corddry (@robcorddry) January 29, 2017
@drmitchell85 @eorden @maggieNYT Open your eyes people. This is NOT incompetence. There is intent behind this chaos #StopPresidentBannon
— PenTool (@tool_pen) January 30, 2017
Many people are worried he is actually more damaging than Trump.
A white nationalist in jeans who told the media to shut up is running our country…
Let that sink in.
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) January 29, 2017
The guy pulling Trump's strings once praised Satan, Darth Vadar & Dick Cheney.
Now he's acting like all three.— Adam McKay (@GhostPanther) January 29, 2017
Twitter this morning be like…
#StopPresidentBannon pic.twitter.com/7NKdIQ6Xat
— LivingBlue (@LivingBlueinRed) January 29, 2017
However, others are less surprised by Bannon’s apparent influence over the president.
Bannon already is running foreign policy. And everything else. Trump is just the salesman. https://t.co/8N8TXlzsGi
— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) January 29, 2017
Priebus and Bannon’s appointments to the NSC means that the director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff no longer have a permanent seat at the table. This is likely to mean that Bannon’s influence on both foreign and domestic policy will continue to grow.
