Trump campaign CEO Stephen Bannon, the former chairman of Breitbart News. Image by Getty Images

President Trump on Wednesday yanked his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, off the National Security Council in a possible victory for rival aide Jared Kushner.

Bannon’s removal from the NSC, which includes senior members of Trump’s foreign policy team, was seen by some as a boost to national security adviser H.R. McMaster, who officials said has struggled to work together with Bannon.

It also might signal that moderates within the administration, including Kushner and chief of staff Reince Preibus, may be making headway in sidelining the former Breitbart News head and unapologetic white nationalist.

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Because he is a political adviser with no experience handling sensitive matters like foreign intelligence and threats to the homeland, Bannon’s appointment as a principal to the NSC rankled within the national security establishment when it was announced in January. While Bannon was elevated to a principal, the attendance of of the head of national intelligence and the military’s joint chiefs of staff chairman was changed to optional.

The White House at the time defended its move, asserting that Bannon’s service in the Navy and familiarity with “geopolitical affairs” qualified him for the position.—With Reuters

Contact Daniel J. Solomon at solomon@forward.com or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon

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