Trump Faces Backlash Over White House Picks

'Trump likes to have his subordinates battle it out—but this is something else'
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 14, 2016 5:27 AM CST
Updated Nov 14, 2016 6:22 AM CST
Trump White House Picks Puzzle, Alarm Analysts
President-elect Donald Trump stands with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus during an election night rally in New York.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Analysts wondering what kind of White House Donald Trump is going to run were still scratching their heads Sunday after the announcement that Reince Priebus will be Trump's chief of staff and Steve Bannon his chief strategist. The two men are from radically different wings of the conservative movement and while Trump describes them as "equal partners to transform the federal government," observers wonder how establishment figure Priebus and alt-right star Bannon will be able to co-exist in the West Wing, Politico reports. "Trump likes to have his subordinates battle it out—but this is something else," a GOP insider says. "This is either going to be Team of Rivals or Hunger Games—or maybe both." In other coverage:

  • The Washington Post reports the appointment of Bannon, former chairman of Breitbart News, has alarmed many because of his strong ties to the alt-right movement. "Trump should rescind this hire. In his victory speech, Trump said he intended to be president for 'all Americans.' Bannon should go," tweeted the Southern Poverty Law Center, describing Bannon as "the main driver behind Breitbart becoming a white ethno-nationalist propaganda mill."

  • The Telegraph reports that some Republicans are also worried about Bannon's rise. "The racist, fascist extreme right is represented footsteps from the Oval Office. Be very vigilant America," tweeted John Weaver, John Kasich's chief strategist.
  • Insiders tell the New York Times that the choice of Priebus as chief of staff shows how much influence daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner have. The couple had argued that the influential position should not go to somebody too controversial, the sources say.
  • The Hill reports that Bannon says he is looking forward to continuing to work with Priebus. "We had a very successful partnership on the campaign, one that led to victory. We will have that same partnership in working to help President-elect Trump achieve his agenda," he said in a statement.
  • The Daily Beast looks at Bannon's ties to far-right parties in Europe and concludes that his dream is a "worldwide ultra-right."
  • The Guardian looks at the backgrounds of both men and notes that in 2007, Bannon's wife accused him of making anti-Semitic remarks, which he denied.
(More Stephen Bannon stories.)

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