Bannon’s victories, losses and what’s still up for grabs

WASHINGTON: Former chief strategist Stephen Bannon is credited with driving parts of the Trump policy agenda with mixed results.

BATTLES HE WON

ENERGY and environment: Bannon was a top Trump administration critic of the international Paris Climate Agreement, along with Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. They helped persuade Trump to announce in June that the United States would withdraw from the pact struck in 2015 by nearly 200 countries.

Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who were not fans of Bannon, wanted Washington to stay in the pact.

TRAVEL ban: Bannon was a driving force behind Trump’s travel ban. The ban was announced by Trump, but poorly implemented. It caused nationwide protests and confusion, and was challenged in the courts, making it so far a partial win for Bannon.

BATTLES HE LOST

SYRIA strike: Bannon opposed an April military strike ordered by Trump against a Syrian airbase in response to what the Trump administration and US allies say was a poison gas attack by Syria’s military.

Trump has since touted his decision to carry out the strike as a bold one in contrast to former president Barack Obama.

NORTH American Free-Trade Agreement: In line with Bannon’s position, Trump initially threatened to scrap Nafta. But then, the president backtracked and said he was willing to renegotiate the pact with Canada and Mexico.

NORTH Atlantic Treaty Organisation: Bannon has long been sceptical of international alliances. Trump alarmed US allies by calling Nato “obsolete” and berating Washington’s allies for not paying enough for their defence. After pressure from the pragmatist wing of Trump’s National Security Council, he eventually underscored US commitment to Article 5, a crucial part of the treaty.

WHAT’S UP IN THE AIR?

CHINA/North Korea: Bannon has been a China hawk, urging a tougher line on trade toward Beijing and dismissive of efforts to get China’s help in reining in North Korea. In an interview with The American Prospect magazine on Wednesday, Bannon said the US was in an economic war with China and ridiculed suggestions of a military solution to the North Korea issue.

MEXICO wall: A Trump campaign promise was to build a wall on the Mexican border, a position supported by Bannon. Trump’s vow that Mexico will pay for the wall had strained relations between the neighbours. Work on the wall had not begun. Reuters