Trump taunts Bannon for losing support of conservative donor

President Trump on Friday taunted Stephen Bannon for losing the support of his largest financial backer, billionaire heiress Rebekah Mercer.

“The Mercer Family recently dumped the leaker known as Sloppy Steve Bannon. Smart!” Trump tweeted. 

The Mercer Family recently dumped the leaker known as Sloppy Steve Bannon. Smart!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018

The president’s comments came after Mercer publicly distanced herself from Bannon ahead of the publication of a new book in which the former top White House strategist made incendiary criticisms of Trump and his family.  

“I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected,” Mercer said in a statement. “My family and I have not communicated with Steve Bannon in many months and have provided no financial support to his political agenda, nor do we support his recent actions and statements.”

Trump reportedly spoke to Mercer, who is a major contributor to his political efforts, by phone before she made the announcement.  

Mercer and her family, however, have not withdrawn their financial support from Breitbart News, where Bannon serves as chairman. The Wall Street Journal reported members of the board, including Mercer, met recently to discuss whether to remove the former Trump aide. 

Trump is ramping up his attacks against Bannon to discredit his comments in the book “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.”

The president has repeatedly denounced Bannon as a “leaker” and given him the derisive moniker “Sloppy Steve.”

In a blistering statement released after excerpts of the book leaked, Trump said his once-close political ally “lost his mind” and accused him of being “only in it for himself.”