President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of his chief strategist this week, drawing fierce criticism. Stephen Bannon will serve as chief strategist and senior counselor for Trump, which will make him one of Trump’s top advisers and give him say in pretty much everything about the presidency, The Washington Post reports.
Bannon joined the Trump campaign in August. Previously he was executive chairman of Breitbart News, a site with ties to a fringe conservative movement that promotes racist language and white nationalism.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called Bannon an “anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist and White nationalist alt-right extremist” in a statement, pointing to the Breitbart News website as proof of Bannon’s views on minority groups and Muslims. Under Bannon, Breitbart published headlines such as, “‘Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy” and “Hoist It High and Proud: The Confederate Flag Proclaims a Glorious Heritage.”
Paul Ryan said he had “no concerns” about Stephen Bannon potentially becoming Chief of Staff. Bannon ran a website with these headlines. pic.twitter.com/LpNug7MAof
— Joon Lee (@iamjoonlee) November 13, 2016
The Southern Poverty Law Center also accused Breitbart of embracing White nationalism. The law center tweeted controversial stories written by Breitbart under Bannon’s control. The law center tweeted, “Trump said he intended to be president for ‘all Americans.’ Bannon should go.”
Trump should rescind this hire. In his victory speech, Trump said he intended to be president for “all Americans.” Bannon should go.
— SPLC (@splcenter) November 13, 2016
Jonathon Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Deflamation League, also released a statement on Twitter denouncing Bannon’s appointment.
We at @ADL_National oppose the appt of Steve Bannon to sr role at @WhiteHouse bc he & his alt-right are so hostile to core American values pic.twitter.com/qCVEPKoa7q
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) November 14, 2016
In 2007, Bannon’s ex-wife accused him of making anti-Semitic remarks, and in 1996, he was charged with domestic violence. The case was eventually dismissed, The Guardian reports.
It’s scary to see that someone so closely tied to white nationalist thinking will be one of the top advisers in the White House. As Trump moves forward with other appointees, hopefully he will find the best, most qualified people for the position who will think about the lives of all Americans.