Coming off a wickedly scathing "official statement" from Donald Trump about what a useless no-good slug Steve Bannon is and always was, White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders wove a wildly fictional tale at Wednesday's briefing that sought to effectively erase the slime trail left by Bannon's presence at the White House altogether.
Asked why Trump elevated Bannon to the same level as a Chief of Staff, Sanders said no such thing ever happened.
I wouldn't say that he elevated him to the same level as the Chief of Staff. And I think that in the actions that Steve took, the president was clear that it didn't have a lot of influence on him or the decision-making process throughout his time here at the White House.
Really? What about putting Bannon on the National Security Council and all that internal tension over him and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus being named “equal partners” in the White House?
Just to be clear about what’s happening here—Bannon is now going the way of Paul Manafort, who retroactively played a “very limited role” in 2016 while serving as Trump’s campaign chair. Keep in mind that Sean Spicer started spinning that “we barely knew him” claim about Manafort back in March of last year and Manafort wasn’t actually indicted until October. It makes one wonder where this thing with Bannon is heading. Sure, Bannon’s statements in the new Michael Wolffe book have ticked off Trump, but something about this just feels more bitterly consequential than an unpleasant parting of the ways between two one-time political besties.
Ok, back to the briefing—how about the last time Trump spoke with Bannon?
Not since early December, eh? Asked if that was before or after the special election in Alabama, Sanders said she’d have to “circle back” on the date. Rest assured, by tomorrow, she’ll claim it was before… maybe even December 2016, to be exact. Or maybe never... maybe Trump never actually met with… Steve who?
Anyway, you get it. The real shocker of the press briefing is that Sanders actually let a gasp of truth leave her mouth. Asked whether Trump felt “betrayed” by Bannon, she said:
“I think the president's statement is extremely clear…”
Yes… it was indeed “clear.” It may have, in fact, been the only claim of clarity from the White House podium that has ever been grounded in truth since Trump became pr*sident.
Finally, Sanders accidentally coined a new word: “Collusia.” Frankly, it may have been her pithiest quote to date. Freud would be proud. Watch it below.