After word leaked that Steve Bannon had been kicked off the National Security Council (though he’s retained his security clearance), the natural question was, who did it? Fear not, the palace intrigue continues, writes Politico:
In recent weeks, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, has asked searching questions — sometimes for hours — of inside and outside advisers about the White House's performance and complained about Bannon in particular, according to people who have spoken with Kushner. Kushner, a onetime New York Democrat, and Bannon, a hard-right nationalist, have clashed as Kushner has told people that Bannon’s desire to deconstruct the government is hurting the president.
One person familiar with Kushner's thinking says Kushner believes Bannon is more of a problem than Reince Priebus, the chief of staff.
“Big fight is between nationalists and the ‘West Wing Democrats,'” one senior administration official said.
Oh my—“West Wing Democrats”—what a slam. Anyway, score one for the ‘Democrats’ even though Bannon & Co. floated some laughable theories for why he “stepped down.”
Glee aside, the good news is that Trump national security adviser H.R. McMaster and a seemingly sane counterbalance in the White House, prevailed.
Bannon’s exit, revealed in a federal register filing and confirmed by multiple White House officials, is perceived to represent a significant long-term increase in authority for H.R. McMaster, Trump’s new national security adviser, who now has greater authority over the council’s agenda without one of Trump’s closest aides watching closely over him.
“McMaster won,” one NSC official said.