Bannon was proud of Trump’s Charlottesville remarks: report
White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon was reportedly proud of President Trump’s performance Tuesday regarding the violent clashes this past weekend in Charlottesville, Va.
A source close to Bannon told Bloomberg News the chief strategist was proud of Trump on Tuesday.
Trump on Tuesday held a defiant news conference in which he said there is “blame on both sides” for the deadly violence over the weekend in Charlottesville.
{mosads}His remarks sparked controversy and spurred backlash from both Democrats and Republicans.
“What about the alt-left that came charging at the — as you say, the alt-right?” Trump asked during the news conference.
“Do they have any semblance of guilt? What about the fact they came charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do. As far as I am concerned, that was a horrible, horrible day.”
Recent reports have said Bannon’s role in the White House is in limbo. A New York Times report said the president’s advisers and confidants are urging Trump to fire the chief strategist.
Bannon has also become a target of criticism from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights activists in recent days.
Trump cast uncertainty on Bannon’s future during his press conference Tuesday.
“I like Mr. Bannon; he’s a friend of mine. But Mr. Bannon came on very late, you know that,” Trump said in a news conference in New York City.
“I like him. He’s a good man. He’s not a racist, I can tell you that. He’s a good person. He actually gets a very unfair press in that regard.
“But we’ll see what happens with Mr. Bannon,” Trump added. “But he’s a good person, and I think the press treats him frankly very unfairly.”
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