President Trump Reorganises The National Security Council. Adds His Chief Strategist To The Council

Steve Bannon attends as Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on Saturday. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

NPR: With National Security Council Shakeup, Steve Bannon Gets A Seat At The Table

President Trump has reorganized the National Security Council by elevating his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, and demoting the director of National Intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Bannon will join the NSC's principals committee, the top interagency group for discussing national security. The National Security Council is the staff inside the White House that coordinates decision-making by the president on such matters, in coordination with outside departments including the State Department and the Pentagon.

It's an unusual decision, NPR's Mara Liasson reports. "David Axelrod, for instance, who had a similar job as Bannon in the Obama administration, never sat in on principals meetings," she added. When such figures seen as part of the political wing of the White House have participated in broader National Security Council meetings, it has sparked sharp criticism from the national security establishment.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The White House defends its decision .... Trump Administration Defends Bannon’s Role on Security Council (NYT). More here .... Trump chief of staff: defense officials not off NSC after Bannon move (The Guardian). What's my take .... national security, wars, defense and intelligence policies .... these are always issues that have been politicised by every President in the past. The optics of putting chief strategist Steve Bannon on the NSC certainly do not look good .... but in reality .... politics is what drives many of the national security decisions that comes out from the Council. As to reports that the Joint Chief and other senior intel officers have been left out .... this is a mistake .... but since this announcement the White House Chief of Staff is now saying that these officials have not been left out of the NSC.

More News On President Trump Reorganising The National Security Council And Addsing His Chief Strategist To The Council

Bannon Is Given Security Role Usually Held for Generals -- NYT
White House backs Steve Bannon attending national-security meetings -- AP
Trump adds Steve Bannon to national security team -- CBS
Trump gives National Security Council seat to ex-Breitbart chief Steve Bannon -- The Guardian
Trump gives Stephen Bannon National Security Council role -- USA Today
Trump National Security Council Shake-Up Elevates Stephen Bannon -- Fortune
The man behind Trump? Still Steve Bannon -- Politico