Helen Jarden
Editor-in-Chief
Steve Bannon, former head of Breitbart, was put on the National Security Council by President Trump on Jan. 29, sparking an uproar from many people in the United States.
Along with this change, Trump also demoted the director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with placing Bannon on the NSC.
It became clear that both republicans and democrats were startled by this change. Senator John McCain stated on CBS that it is a “radical departure from any National Security Council in history” and Democratic Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy introduced legislation that would kick Bannon off the council.
Bannon, who worked as Chief Executive on Trump’s campaign, has been a controversial figure ever since President Trump’s election. Even as far back as November there have been protests against Bannon on Los Angeles and New York City.
Many have questioned whether or not Bannon, the previous head of Breitbart news, is even qualified for this position.
“The man was in charge of a news site that publishes falsehoods, profiting off of confirming people’s beliefs rather than presenting them with facts,” Lewis and Clark Community College graduate Brennen Larson stated.
He continued, “I think he has no place serving in any position, much less one tasked with ensuring the safety of the country. I especially don’t like the fact that his appointment to that position came at the same time as the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s position on the NSC was downgraded. Placing someone like that in any position of power seriously threatens the stability of our government.”
Many news organizations have reported that Bannon is a white supremacist due to the type of content Breitbart produces. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the news site promotes racist, anti-Muslim, and anti-immigrant ideas.
He’s also been accused of being anti-semitic. In court documents from 2007, Bannon’s ex-wife stated that he didn’t want their daughters to go to a particular school because of the number of Jewish students enrolled. This, along with his lack of experience, has caused many to speak out against Bannon.
“Steve Bannon’s lack of experience, his connections to white supremacists, and his worldview of aggressive nihilism render him utterly unsuitable to serve in any public office,” PhD Candidate in English Martha Baldwin stated.
To read more about Steve Bannon, and his many controversial actions, visit https://bitly.com/2fs5t27.
