GOP leader applauds choice of Priebus as chief of staff
President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus as chief of staff was a “great move,” a former Priebus rival said — though he’s taking wait-and-see approach on the naming of controversial Breitbart News executive Steve Bannon as chief strategist.
Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan GOP chairman who Preibus defeated in 2011 for the RNC chairmanship, called Preibus a “very savvy, well connected guy that I think will help serve the president well,” building bridges with tenured Republicans.
“I think he has a broad reach across the country that will help the president kind of bring the Republican leadership into the fold with respect to the work that has to be done,” Anuzis said.
Anuzis added Priebus’ relationship with House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had an up-and-down relationship with Trump during the campaign, “will also be very helpful.” Priebus and Ryan are longtime allies, both from Wisconsin.
Bannon, who ran Breitbart. com for the past decade, is less of a known political commodity. The Trump transition said he will serve as chief strategist and senior counselor to the resident.
Anuzis said Bannon is “clearly a close confidante to the president ... It’s just too early to tell what his roll will be.”
Bannon is said to have the keenest insight into the populist messaging that won Trump the election.
A Trump transition team statement said Bannon and Priebus “will continue the effective leadership team they formed during the campaign, working as equal partners to transform the federal government, making it much more efficient, effective and productive.”