Trump Makes Deal With RNC, Names Reince Priebus Chief Of Staff

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President-elect Donald Trump has named Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus as his chief of staff, according to NBC News.

Steve Bannon of Breitbart News is appointed chief strategist and senior counselor to president.

NBC News reports:

Trump’s transition team confirmed the appointment Sunday afternoon, but sources said that the decision was finalized Saturday night

The Republican, who is serving his third term with the RNC, was reported to be at the top of Trump’s shortlist for the key White House position in the days following the election. That list also reportedly included Steve Bannon, Trump’s controversial campaign CEO whose website, Breitbart News, has espoused anti-Semitic and nationalist views.

Instead, Bannon will serve as chief strategist and senior counselor to the president, Trump’s transition team announced Sunday. Under Bannon, Breitbart.com has embraced racist conspiracy theories and become what Bannon termed “a platform for the alt-right.”

The choice of Priebus is certain to comfort establishment Republicans wary that the unpredictable candidate Trump will make a reappearance in the White House — but one that could fuel resentment among the grassroots.

Priebus earned respect from Republicans over the course of his six-year tenure as head of the RNC, proving to be a powerful fundraising force who deftly navigated the party through the internal squabbling sparked by the rise of the conservative Tea Party movement following the 2010 election.

Priebus, once Wisconsin’s GOP Chairman, has close ties House Speaker Paul Ryan, also a Wisconsin Republican, and could serve as a liaison to Capitol Hill who’s trusted by both sides.

Bannon’s new role, however, could cause tension. In an internal Breitbart email leaked to The Hill in early October, Bannon said that “the ‘long game’ for his news site was for Ryan to be ‘gone’ by the spring.”

Priebus’ appointment is likely to fuel concerns among grassroots conservatives who believe Priebus moved too aggressively to consolidate power among the GOP establishment during his tenure as RNC chairman. In fact, former Trump adviser Roger Stone tweeted this weekend the pick “would cause a rebellion in Trump’s base.”

Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund co-founder Jenny Beth Martin also warned in a statement that naming Priebus, a “Washington insider,” as chief of staff “would make it more difficult, not less, for President Trump to achieve the change the people voted for.”

A campaign source with knowledge of the decision said, “Instead of draining the swamp, we just put in the head alligator.”

Indeed, the pick of Priebus marks a remarkable turnaround in their once-fraught relationship that reflects Priebus’ careful and persistent efforts to gain Trump’s respect and confidence over the course of the general election campaign.

During the primary fight, Trump railed against Priebus and the GOP for party rules concerning selection of the nominee that Trump insisted were unfair.

“It’s a disgrace for the party. And Reince Priebus should be ashamed of himself,” Trump said of the rules in April.

At the time, Priebus tweeted in response: “Nomination process known for a year + beyond. It’s the responsibility of the campaigns to understand it. Complaints now? Give us all a break.”

But since Trump won his party’s nomination, Priebus became one of the candidate’s closest advisers and was seen as one of the forces that helped reign Trump in and keep him on-message — one of the small group of advisers dubbed the “Trump Whisperers.”

1 Comment

  1. lol want to solidify President Trumps lead in the midterms, “LOCK THEM UP” both KILLERY and Oboma, for treason and sedation”!!!

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