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Trump drops Steve Bannon from National Security Council

Trump drops Steve Bannon from National Security Council

Stephen Bannon

Story highlights

An official said?Bannon?had been placed on the NSC originally as a check on Michael Flynn, and had only ever attended one meeting

USPresident Donald Trump on Wednesday withdrew his chief strategist, SteveBannon, from the National Security Council on Wednesday after it was decided he was no longer needed on the key foreign policy group, a senior White House official said.

Bannon's removal from the NSC, which includes senior members of Trump's foreign policy team, was seen as a boost to national security adviser HRMcMaster, who officials said has struggled to work together withBannon.

A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, saidBannon's presence on the NSC was no longer needed after the departure of Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

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Flynn was forced to resign in February over his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kisylak, prior to Trump's taking office on January20.

The official saidBannonhad been placed on the NSC originally as a check on Flynn and had only ever attended one of the NSC's regular meetings.

Bannon's initial appointmentwas criticised by members of Congress andWashington's foreign policy establishment.

Many in the general public were also stronglycritical,pointingtoBannon's total lack of experience in politicsand to his website's, Breitbart,reputation for supporting white nationalism.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)