Changes

Bannon co-founded the [[Government Accountability Institute]] a non-profit group that helped the [[Koch brothers]] fund some of his research on a tax-deductible basis.

Bannon co-founded the [[Government Accountability Institute]] a non-profit group that helped the [[Koch brothers]] fund some of his research on a tax-deductible basis.

Due to his conservative, nationalist views, as well as his strong opposition to the [[mainstream media]], the MSM has been ruthless in trying to oust him from the White House.<ref>Kurtz, Howard (April 14, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/14/bannon-bashing-why-press-is-targeting-trump-aide-as-barely-hanging-on.html Bannon bashing: Why the press is targeting the Trump aide as barely hanging on]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 14, 2017.</ref> More moderate members in the White House also oppose him.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/14/establishment-rising-trumps-white-house-noonan-says-efforts-take-bannon-low-unseemly-ugly/ Establishment Rising in Trump’s White House: Noonan Says Efforts to ‘Take Out’ Bannon ‘Low, Unseemly, Ugly’]. ''Breitbart News''. April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.</ref> Due to that opposition, Bannon has been falsely claimed to be "racist," even though these claims have been refuted.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/05/09/steve-bannons-former-partner-in-hollywood-says-trump-strategist-is-no-racist.html Steve Bannon's former partner in Hollywood says Trump strategist is no racist]. ''Fox News''. May 9, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> In fact, Bannon has called [[white supremacist]]s and [[Racism|racists]] "a collection of clowns."<ref>Siegel, Josh (August 16, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/steve-bannon-fringe-far-right-who-rallied-in-charlottesville-are-a-collection-of-clowns/article/2631784 Steve Bannon: 'Fringe' far-right who rallied in Charlottesville are 'a collection of clowns']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved August 16, 2017.</ref><ref>Pollak, Joel B. (August 16, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/16/bannon-calls-left-wing-journalist-declare-economic-war-china/ Bannon Calls Left-Wing Journalist to Declare Economic War on China]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 16, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/16/bannon-calls-far-right-clowns-says-enemies-are-wetting-themselves-in-rare-interview.html Bannon calls far right 'clowns,' says enemies are 'wetting themselves,' in rare interview]. ''Fox News''. August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.</ref> He was described as the "intellectual heart" of Trump's political movement, and he preferred working on weekends over partying.<ref>Lee, Tony (August 20, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/20/politico-bannon-intellectual-heart-movement-who-would-rather-work-weekends-than-party-in-hamptons/ Politico: Bannon ‘Intellectual Heart’ of Movement Who Would Rather Work Weekends than Party in Hamptons]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 21, 2017.</ref>

===White House Chief Strategist===

U.S. President-elect [[Donald Trump]] appointed Bannon as his chief strategist, and Bannon took office upon Trump inauguration in January 20, 2017.

On August 18, 2017, the White House announced that Bannon was leaving his role, effective immediately. The UK's ''Guardian'' newspaper reported that minutes earlier a White House insider and Trump ally had confided that the leaks over previous days about Bannon's role were "part of an effort to pressure the White House aide to step down." The source claimed: "They are trying to get him to quit."<ref name="jacobs">Jacobs, Ben (August 18, 2017) "[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/18/steve-bannon-white-house-trump-administration Steve Bannon, chief White House strategist, removed from role]." London: ''The Guardian''. Retrieved August 18, 2017.</ref> The ''Guardian'' also noted that "[Bannon's] absence means more power and influence for figures such as Trump's son-in-law [[Jared Kushner]] and the national economic council chair, [[Gary Cohn]], who have few, if any, ideological ties to the Republican party and the conservative movement."<ref name=jacobs/> On the same day his resignation was announced, 20 grassroots conservative groups sent a letter to President Trump asking him to keep Bannon, along with [[Kellyanne Conway]].<ref>Moons, Michelle (August 18, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/18/20-grassroots-conservative-groups-come-out-in-support-of-steve-bannon/ 20 Grassroots Conservative Groups Come Out in Support of Steve Bannon]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 18, 2017.</ref>

 

On August 18, 2017, the White House announced that Bannon was leaving his role, effective immediately. The UK's ''Guardian'' newspaper reported that minutes earlier a White House insider and Trump ally had confided that the leaks over previous days about Bannon's role were "part of an effort to pressure the White House aide to step down." The source claimed: "They are trying to get him to quit."<ref name="jacobs">Jacobs, Ben (August 18, 2017) "[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/18/steve-bannon-white-house-trump-administration Steve Bannon, chief White House strategist, removed from role]." London: ''The Guardian''. Retrieved August 18, 2017.</ref> The ''Guardian'' also noted that "[Bannon's] absence means more power and influence for figures such as Trump's son-in-law [[Jared Kushner]] and the national economic council chair, [[Gary Cohn]], who have few, if any, ideological ties to the Republican Party and the conservative movement."<ref name=jacobs/> On the same day his resignation was announced, 20 grassroots conservative groups sent a letter to President Trump asking him to keep Bannon, along with [[Kellyanne Conway]].<ref>Moons, Michelle (August 18, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/18/20-grassroots-conservative-groups-come-out-in-support-of-steve-bannon/ 20 Grassroots Conservative Groups Come Out in Support of Steve Bannon]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 18, 2017.</ref>

Bannon rejoined Breitbart as its executive chairman on the same day he resigned as White House Chief Strategist.<ref>Easley, Jonathan (August 18, 2017). [http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/347177-bannon-back-at-breitbart-after-white-house-ouster Bannon back at Breitbart after White House ouster]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved August 18, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/08/18/populist-hero-stephen-k-bannon-returns-home-breitbart/ ‘Populist Hero’ Stephen K. Bannon Returns Home to Breitbart]. ''Breitbart News''. August 18, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.</ref>

Bannon rejoined Breitbart as its executive chairman on the same day he resigned as White House Chief Strategist.<ref>Easley, Jonathan (August 18, 2017). [http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/347177-bannon-back-at-breitbart-after-white-house-ouster Bannon back at Breitbart after White House ouster]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved August 18, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/08/18/populist-hero-stephen-k-bannon-returns-home-breitbart/ ‘Populist Hero’ Stephen K. Bannon Returns Home to Breitbart]. ''Breitbart News''. August 18, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.</ref>