Bannon ‘quit threat’ over security council

By in New York STEVE BANNON threatened to leave the White House after he was ousted from the National Security Committee, it has been reported, and was only convinced to stay by a hardline conservative Republican “mega donor” telling him “this is a long-term play”. Mr Bannon, an adviser to Donald Trump, was removed from the NSC on Wednesday.

His appointment to the committee had been controversial as political appointees are not normally allowed to sit on the panel.

H R McMaster, the national security adviser, who took over from his sacked predecessor Michael Flynn in Febru- ary, was said to have been uncomfortable with Mr Bannon’s presence.

His removal is seen as a “normalisation” of the committee – accompanied by the restoration of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the director of national intelligence as permanent members. Both permanent positions had been eliminated in January as part of a reorganisation of the NSC, shortly after Mr Trump first took office.

White House sources told The Atlantic that Mr Bannon’s removal had been long planned, and that he was only ever there to keep an eye on Mr Flynn.

But Politico claimed that Mr Bannon, 63, was furious at the demotion. One person told the site that he had threat- ened to resign if Mr Trump went through with it.

But he was calmed by Rebekah Mercer, the 43-year-old director of the Mercer Family Foundation, set up by her hedge fund manager father Robert. The Mercers are among the most influential Republican donors. One source, described as a Republican operative who talks to the Mercers, said: “Bekah tried to convince him that this is a longterm play. If Bannon leaves the White House, Bekah’s access and influence shrinks dramatically.”

The White House has denied that Mr Bannon ever threatened to resign, and Mr Bannon told Politico the story was “total nonsense”.