Hold on to your butts, America. Steve Bannon is, as an ally told one reporter, "unchained" after being relieved of his White House duties as Trump's strategic advisor
In an interview this evening, Bannon tells the Weekly Standard he's returning to run Breitbart.com, as he was before becoming Trump's campaign manager exactly one year and one day ago today.
Bannon will become Executive Chairman of the white supremacist "alt-right" publishing firm. "I built a f***ing machine at Breitbart," Bannon said, "And now I'm about to go back…and we're about to rev that machine up."
From Bannon's interview with the Weekly Standard:
"The Trump presidency that we fought for, and won, is over," Bannon said Friday, shortly after confirming his departure. "We still have a huge movement, and we will make something of this Trump presidency. But that presidency is over. It'll be something else. And there'll be all kinds of fights, and there'll be good days and bad days, but that presidency is over."
(…)
"On August 7th , I talked to [Chief of Staff John] Kelly and to the President, and I told them that my resignation would be effective the following Monday, on the 14th," he said. "I'd always planned on spending one year. General Kelly has brought in a great new system, but I said it would be best. I want to get back to Breitbart."(…) Bannon says the fight is just beginning.
"I feel jacked up," he says. "Now I'm free. I've got my hands back on my weapons. Someone said, 'it's Bannon the Barbarian.' I am definitely going to crush the opposition. There's no doubt. I built a f***ing machine at Breitbart. And now I'm about to go back, knowing what I know, and we're about to rev that machine up. And rev it up we will do."
Bannon friend says Breitbart ramping up for war against Trump. "It's now a Democrat White House," source says.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) August 18, 2017
As I wrote earlier today…
I have a feeling Breitbart, with a resentful & newly liberated Steve Bannon back at the helm, is about to make Trump's life living hell
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) August 18, 2017
Breitbart.com looks giddy.
And informed reactions from others:
Just talked to Breitbart editor Matt Boyle about Bannon's return to Breitbart: "We're in a loud bar celebrating the return of our captain!"
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) August 18, 2017
Just got off the phone w/ Bannon: "If there's any confusion out there, let me clear it up: I'm leaving the White House and going to war" 1/2
— Joshua Green (@JoshuaGreen) August 18, 2017
Source close to Breitbart also says Bannon is gearing up for "war" against Rupert Murdoch.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) August 18, 2017
Source close to Bannon confirms Bannon expected to return to Breitbart after a WH exit
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) August 18, 2017
.@ryanlizza with his comprehensive Bannon obit. https://t.co/sEsc0rtLEX
— Michael Luo (@michaelluo) August 18, 2017
Question: Until a few hrs ago, Bannon had a top-level security clearance. Now he runs a news site. Did he sign/commit to any restrictions?
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) August 18, 2017