‘Bannon? He not only lost his job – he lost his mind’

THE US President claimed last night that his former chief strategist had ‘lost his mind’ after being sacked from the White House.

Donald Trump hit out at Steve Bannon in a statement after the former aide made accusations against Mr Trump’s family.

Mr Bannon is quoted in a new book as saying a meeting during the 2016 presidential campaign between Mr Trump’s son Donald Jr and a group of Russians was ‘treasonous’. The encounter at Trump Tower in New York – after a Russian lawyer purportedly offered damaging information about rival candidate Hillary Clinton – was also attended by Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

The Senate, House of Representatives and a special counsel are all investigating alleged Russian interference in the presidential election and alleged attempts to undermine Democratic candidate Mrs Clinton. Mr Bannon reportedly said he expected the investigations to focus on moneylaundering, adding: ‘They’re going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV.’

Mr Trump last night disavowed Mr Bannon, who was also chief executive officer of his presidential campaign in its final months. His statement said: ‘Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.’

According to the book Fire And Fury: Inside The Trump White House, Mr Bannon told author Michael Wolff that the Russia meeting was ‘treasonous’, and that he believed the Russians were taken to see Mr Trump.

The Kremlin and Mr Trump have both denied collusion over the election.

Mr Manafort last night said he was suing special counsel Robert Mueller, claiming that he had exceeded his legal authority.