Reed Statement on Demotion of Steve Bannon from Permanent National Security Council Post

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the
Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on the demotion of
Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump’s chief political strategist, from the National
Security Council’s principal’s committee:

«Steve Bannon had no business being on the National Security Council to begin with.
It is a positive step that the Trump Administration reversed its mistake and removed
him from the permanent council. However, in classic Trump Administration style, it
seems there is confusion over whether he will still participate in future NSC
meetings.

«At a time when Syria’s civil war is a continuing tragedy, Russia is ever more
emboldened, and ISIS continues to hold swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria,
Americans deserve a National Security Council that is focused on the facts and
policy, not the kind of pure electoral politics practiced by Mr. Bannon.

«General McMaster has the skills to run the NSC, but even after today the jury is
out on whether the President and his advisors will keep politics out of the NSC.»