Turmoil, power struggle rock Trump transition team

WASHINGTON — U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, who clashed with leading Republicans throughout his campaign, faces tumult in his national security transition team and broad criticism over his views and choices.

Former Michigan congressman Mike Rogers, thought to be a leading candidate to run the CIA, was among those pushed out over the past two days — a move that’s added to the anxiety across the upper ranks of U.S. intelligence agencies.

The changes came as Trump met Tuesday with incoming vice-president Mike Pence to discuss cabinet and White House personnel choices. Pence last week replaced New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as head of Trump’s transition efforts, and Christie’s associates now find themselves losing influence.

Sources say there is a power struggle within the transition team, including an effort by Trump’s sonin-law, Jared Kushner, to purge the ranks of loyalists to Christie.

Also Tuesday, Sen. John McCain, perhaps the most influential Republican on security matters, weighed in on Trump’s efforts to work with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying efforts to “reset” relations with Russia were unacceptable.

Meanwhile, the appointment of former Breitbart News head Stephen Bannon as chief White House strategist was denounced by advocacy groups who accuse him of racist, anti-Semitic and misogynist views.