this year to give a political adviser an unprecedented role in security discussions.
Trump's
overhaul of the NSC, confirmed by a White House official, also elevated General
Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Dan Coats, the
director of National Intelligence who heads all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies.
The official said the change moves the NSC "back to its core function of
what it’s supposed to do."
It also
appears to mark a victory for national security adviser H.R. McMaster, who had
told some national security experts he felt he was in a "battle to the
death" with Bannon and others on the White House staff.
Trump's
White House team has grappled with infighting and palace intrigue that has
hobbled his young presidency. In recent days, several other senior U.S. foreign
policy and national security officials have said the mechanisms for shaping the
Trump administration's response to pressing challenges such as Syria, North
Korea and Iran were still not in place.
Critics of
Bannon's role on the NSC said it gave too much weight in decision-making to
someone who lacked foreign policy expertise.
Before
joining the Trump administration, Bannon headed Breitbart News, a right-wing
website.
White House Senior Advisor Steve Bannon
attends a roundtable discussion held by U.S. President Donald Trump with auto
industry leaders at the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Township,
Michigan, U.S., March 15, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
White House
Senior Advisor Steve Bannon attends a roundtable discussion held by U.S.
President Donald Trump with auto industry leaders at the American Center for
Mobility in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, U.S., March 15, 2017.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Bannon in
some respects represents Trump's "America First" nationalistic voice,
helping fuel his anti-Washington fervor and pushing for the president to part
ways when he needs to with the establishment wing of the Republican Party.
U.S.
Representative Adam Schiff, ranking Democrat on the House of Representatives
intelligence committee, called the shift in the NSC a positive step that will
help McMaster "gain control over a body that was being politicized by
Bannon's involvement."
"As the
administration's policy over North Korea, China, Russia and Syria continues to
drift, we can only hope this shake-up brings some level of strategic vision to
the body," he said.
Bannon's
removal from the NSC was a potential setback for his sphere of influence in the
Trump White House, where he has a voice in most major decisions.
The White
House official said Bannon was no longer needed on the NSC after the departure
of Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn.
Flynn was
forced to resign on Feb. 13 over his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the
United States, Sergei Kislyak, prior to Trump's taking office on Jan. 20.
The official
said Bannon had been placed on the NSC originally as a check on Flynn and had
only ever attended one of the NSC's regular meetings.
The official
dismissed questions about a power struggle between Bannon and McMaster, saying
they shared the same world view.
However, two
current national security officials rejected the White House explanation,
noting that two months have passed since Flynn's departure.
McMaster,
they said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, also has dueled with Bannon
and others over direct access to Trump; the future of deputy national security
adviser K.T. McFarland, a former Fox News commentator; intelligence director
Ezra Cohen-Watnick, a Flynn appointee; and other staffing decisions.
Trump is
preparing for his first face-to-face meeting on Thursday and Friday with
Chinese President Xi Jinping with the threat of North Korea's nuclear and
missile programs a key component of their talks.
Bannon's
seat on the NSC's "principals' committee," a group that includes the
secretaries of state, defense and other ranking aides, was taken by Rick Perry,
who as energy secretary is charged with overseeing the U.S. nuclear weapons
arsenal.
REUTERS
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