Breitbart blames McMaster for Trump ‘error’ in reacting to Naval collision

Breitbart published a story on Monday accusing national security adviser H.R. McMaster of not briefing President Trump on a Naval collision near Singapore, raising new speculation that the conservative site is going after opponents of Stephen Bannon, the former White House strategist who has now returned to the website.

The report said McMaster, along with Trump chief of staff John Kelly, had originally “kept the president in the dark on the incident” involving the USS McCain, which it says caused the president to respond, “That’s too bad,” when asked about the matter. 

Trump’s initial, curt response raised eyebrows and received criticism; however, the president later issued more detailed remarks on Twitter. 

Thoughts & prayers are w/ our @USNavy sailors aboard the #USSJohnSMcCain where search & rescue efforts are underway. https://t.co/DQU0zTRXNU

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2017

{mosads}The report marks the second time in less than a day that the publication has taken aim at McMaster. 

Breitbart published a report on Sunday labeling McMaster as soft on Islamic extremism. 

Bannon and McMaster were seen as opponents within the administration, and Breitbart published a number of critical stories about the national security adviser while Bannon was in the White House. Bannon denied having anything to do with the stories, but he also did not publicly push back on them.

{mosads}Bannon said he would continue to be a populist force outside of the White House and use the publication to push his own agenda. 

“Now I’m free. I’ve got my hands back on my weapons,” he told the Weekly Standard in an interview on Friday.

McMaster, for his part, in an interview earlier this month dodged questions about whether he could work with Bannon, underlining the tensions.

Breitbart in Monday’s story cited a source that alleged Trump not being briefed on the Naval collision is part of a wider pattern of “disrespect for the president.”