President Donald J. Trump has decided to remove his chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon amid a deepening crisis surrounding the White House in the wake of white supremacist protests in Charlottesville, VA.
The New York Times reported on Friday that the president told senior aides that he decided to oust Mr. Bannon, founder of right-wing Breitbart News and a close confidante of Mr. Trump, but he is unsure how to handle his departure.
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump signaled that he will Mr. Bannon the door by saying ”we will see what happens to Mr. Bannon,” recalling that he only joined his campaign later than many of his aides. He also added that he likes his chief strategist.
Hours after the report that Mr. Bannon was about to leave, Joel Pollak, senior editor-at-large for Breitbart News, tweeted: “#WAR”
Calls for the ouster of Mr. Bannon grew louder after the Charlottesville attack when white supremacists clashed with counter-protesters and killed a 32-year-old woman.
Mr. Bannon long clashed with West Wing advisers and staff members, including Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
There were reports that Mr. Bannon would return to Breitbart News.