Steve Bannon weighs in on Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump's ideas in White House
CBS News has confirmed that members of President Trump's legal team became concerned about Jared Kushner's role as senior White House adviser. The Wall Street Journal first reported that the lawyers considered recommending that his son-in-law be fired. They were worried about Kushner's June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer and Donald Trump Jr.
But Kushner remains in the White House, even as other advisers have departed, including former chief strategist Steve Bannon. He had reportedly been at odds with Kushner.
In Bannon's "60 Minutes" conversation with Charlie Rose – his first extensive interview since leaving the Trump administration – he said Kushner, the president's daughter and Kushner's wife, Ivanka Trump, and the factions within the administration "absolutely" have his support.
"Their ideas, as long as it's counterbalanced by the Peter Navarros and the Stephen Millers and more of the economic nationalists, I think we'll be fine," Bannon said. "As long – but I do believe, and I've told the president this, and the president knows this, that if he goes to his default position and goes and follows what he ran on and what he believes in the core of his being, okay, not only is he gonna have a massively successful first term, he's gonna win a second term by a much bigger majority than he won the first. And I think over 400 electoral votes."
Bannon also said he thinks Kushner and Ivanka are "terrific people."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is also firing back at Bannon, rejecting Bannon's version of events following the release of the leaked "Access Hollywood" video during Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Mr. Trump was heard using vulgar language about women. Bannon said Christie was told to be on the campaign plane at a certain time as a show of support, but failed to show up. Christie said that so-called "plane ultimatum" never happened. He also said he was offered Cabinet positions that he turned down.
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Full transcript:
Charlie Rose: So you're saying H.R. McMaster and Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, even though they oppose views that you had on climate and on the Paris Accord, they have your full support and you hope they're there in the White House sticking up for what they believe in.
Steve Bannon: Absolutely. I think Jared and Ivanka are –
Rose: And you hope they stay in the White House –
Bannon: By the way, I think they are terrific people. I think –
Rose: Not about the people, it's about –
Bannon: No, no, no, about – about – and their ideas –
Rose: – influence within the White House.
Bannon: By the way, and their ideas, as long as it's counterbalanced by the Peter Navarros and the Stephen Millers and more of the economic nationalists, I think we'll be fine. As long – but I do believe, and I've told the president this, and the president knows this, that if he goes to his default position and goes and follows what he ran on and what he believes in the core of his being, okay, not only is he gonna have a massively successful first term, he's gonna win a second term by a much bigger majority than he won the first. And I think over 400 electoral votes.