U.S. President Trump facing a 'coup' - Bannon

By Crispian Balmer

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon poses in Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy March 2, 2018. REUTERS/Tony Gentile/File Photo

 

ROME (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is facing a "coup", former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon told Reuters, pointing to an anonymous column in the New York Times detailing resistance within the Trump administration.

 

"What you saw the other day was as serious as it can get. This is a direct attack on the institutions," Bannon said during a flying visit to Italy. "This is a coup, okay".

 

The column was published on Wednesday and was written by an unnamed senior administration official, the New York Times said.

 

The writer slammed Trump's "amorality" and said: "Many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations."

 

Bannon said the last time a U.S. president had been challenged in such a fashion was during the American Civil War when General George B. McClellan clashed with the then president, Abraham Lincoln.

 

"This is a crisis. The country has only ever had such a crisis in the summer of 1862 when General McClellan and the senior generals, all Democrats in the Union Army, deemed that Abraham Lincoln was not fit and not competent to be commander in chief," Bannon said.

 

Trump said on Friday the U.S. Justice Department should find out who wrote the piece, adding that it was an issue of national security.

 

Bannon was fired by Trump in August, 2017 after he fell out with the president's more mainstream advisers over his efforts to bend the Republican party to his own economic nationalist agenda.

 

Bannon said he had resigned from his post and told CBS television at the time that the "Republican establishment" was looking to nullify the 2016 election and neuter Trump.

 

"There is a cabal of Republic establishment figures who believe Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States. This is a crisis," Bannon said in Rome.

 

"I am not a conspiracy guy ... I have said there is no deep state. It is an in-your-face state."

 

He warned liberal progressives within the Democratic Party, such as Bernie Sanders, not to take any pleasure in the White House turmoil.

 

"Don't think it will be any different if you take power. Because this is the established order dictating that they know better than the people," he said.

 

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Keith Weir)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-10

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

"There is a cabal of Republic establishment figures who believe Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States.

There are many, many millions more who also believe that Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States. The discord in his own ranks is growing as more and more people realise what a terrible mistake they have made. I pray for the sake of humanity that they get rid of him soon. The damage, discord and disharmony he sows with every passing day has to be stopped. I am no fan of Bannon, but I do agree with him on this one, that Trump is neither fit nor competent.

 

What I find very strange about this whole saga is that Trump never screamed 'Fake News.'   Usually, that is the first thing out of his mouth.   I mean he is being attacked by the Media again, isn't he?

 

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

"What you saw the other day was as serious as it can get. This is a direct attack on the institutions," Bannon said during a flying visit to Italy. "This is a coup, okay".

"This is a direct attack on the institutions," what institutions?  He could had said a direct attack on the institution of the presidency, and it would had being arguable, a weak argument to be sure , but arguable. But how is this an attack on the institutions??? 

 If indeed there is an attack on the institutions that bind as together as a country , It is an attack by Trump and the subject of the resistance the OP-Ed described.

Edited September 9, 20187 yr by sirineou

"This is a crisis. The country has only ever had such a crisis in the summer of 1862 when General McClellan and the senior generals, all Democrats in the Union Army, deemed that Abraham Lincoln was not fit and not competent to be commander in chief," Bannon said.

 

Well, we know where that went. Bannon needs to cut waaaay back on the hard stuff. And a lot of people need to have their TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) checked.

Edited September 10, 20187 yr by MaxYakov

Bannon? I thought he was politically dead. I guess the specter raises its head and points a boney hand. Does anyone really care what he says anymore?

33 minutes ago, Silurian said:

Bannon? I thought he was politically dead. I guess the specter raises its head and points a boney hand. Does anyone really care what he says anymore?

He’s in Europe establishing a coalition for far-rightwing movements funded by the Koch brothers.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S. President Trump facing a 'coup' - Bannon

The headline should read "US President Trump should be locked up in a coop"

Yeeeeeees, Steve!

A coup!

And now come here, get your medicine and go back to bad!

 

Bannon is wrong. Same thing happened during Trickie Dickie Nixon's last days. The people in his admin stopped implementing hîs orders too. Congressional leaders of his own party went to him and said the jig was up. That's a coup too for all practical  circumstances. Sooner this misfit is tossed from office the better I think.

2 hours ago, Silurian said:

Bannon? I thought he was politically dead. I guess the specter raises its head and points a boney hand. Does anyone really care what he says anymore?

I think Bannon was an annoying idiot who had some good ideas presented in a bad way.

 

But aside everything else...he needs to shave. He looks like the guys that hang around the dumpster. He always has.

During the election campaign Bannon was all for attacking the institutions wasn't he?

Both of those dudes have done much damage to the USA and dare I say the world the sooner they are both gone the better

Bannon is waiting to ponce.

1 minute ago, malibukid said:

Bannon is waiting to ponce.

I think you might be onto something, I’ve always suspected that lot of far-rightwing anger was driven by self loathing.

The executive branch of the US is operating under a "soft coup".   Trump pretty much gets to do what he wants, but his military and intelligence advisors (Mattis, Kelly, Pompeo, Coats and Haspel) prevent Trump from taking actions that are whacked out or blatantly illegal (invasion of N. Korea, assassination of Maduro, etc.)

 

In that way, the US executive branch is operating similar to Myanmar, where there is a civilian "head of state", but the military and intelligence community is actually administering the government.  In other words, Trump's election has turned the U.S. into a banana republic.

55 minutes ago, malibukid said:

Bannon is waiting to ponce.

I think that there might be an indictment in his way!

1 hour ago, zaphod reborn said:

The executive branch of the US is operating under a "soft coup".   Trump pretty much gets to do what he wants, but his military and intelligence advisors (Mattis, Kelly, Pompeo, Coats and Haspel) prevent Trump from taking actions that are whacked out or blatantly illegal (invasion of N. Korea, assassination of Maduro, etc.)

 

In that way, the US executive branch is operating similar to Myanmar, where there is a civilian "head of state", but the military and intelligence community is actually administering the government.  In other words, Trump's election has turned the U.S. into a banana republic.

Nowhere near similar, I'm sure. The BIG difference (one of several, assuming what you have asserted about Myanmar is true) being that Trump can legally fire anyone he choses under the Executive branch and the military and has already fired several including the head of the FBI. Being CiC of the armed forces, he is also not only "head of state". Yes, we have no bananas (yet). I can think of a few I'd be firing right now if I were he.

 

Try to keep up, huh? And you'd better get a TDS checkup soon.

Edited September 10, 20187 yr by MaxYakov

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Bannon

I've always like that jacket he wears.

Waxed cotton I believe...

36 minutes ago, MaxYakov said:

Nowhere near similar, I'm sure. The BIG difference (one of several, assuming what you have asserted about Myanmar is true) being that Trump can legally fire anyone he choses under the Executive branch and the military and has already fired several including the head of the FBI. Being CiC of the armed forces, he is also not only "head of state". Yes, we have no bananas (yet). I can think of a few I'd be firing right now if I were he.

 

Try to keep up, huh? And you'd better get a TDS checkup soon.

He really can't fire anyone he wants.  For instance, he was told he couldn't fire Sessions until after the Midterms.  In fact, he is going to have an extremely difficult time getting a new AG confirmed by the Senate.  He can make a recess appointment, but that appointment only lasts until the next session of the Senate votes for confirmation of the recess appointment.

 

Politically, Trump isn't in a position to be able to fire Mattis, Kelly, Pompeo, Coats or Haspel.  Javanka is pushing for Kelly's termination, but there's no way Trump has the political capital necessary to carry it out.  18 months into his term, he's a lame duck with approval ratings now in the 36-38% range.  His only way out is going to be to negotiate a global pardon of him and his family for an agreement not to hold another political office. 

Just a few questions; How does Bannon know that anonymous is a general; since he makes the comparison between anonymous and a civil war general.  Couldn't anonymous be a senior coffee or covfefe boy? Also, it seems more like Trump, not anonymous, is attempting a coup  by dictating to congress and humiliating and intimidating those who do not follow orders and attempting to stack the Supreme court with a loyalist who will be beholding to him.

“This is a crisis. A large crisis. In fact, if you got a moment, it's a twelve-storey crisis with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour portage, and an enormous sign on the roof, saying 'This Is a Large Crisis'. A large crisis requires a large plan. Get me two pencils and a pair of underpants.” - blackadder

Selling like hotcakes.

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

There are many, many millions more who also believe that Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States. The discord in his own ranks is growing as more and more people realise what a terrible mistake they have made. I pray for the sake of humanity that they get rid of him soon. The damage, discord and disharmony he sows with every passing day has to be stopped. I am no fan of Bannon, but I do agree with him on this one, that Trump is neither fit nor competent.

 

And there are millions of Americans who feel just the opposite. Trump was elected to clean out the entrenched deep state and the result you see are these people attempting to nullify the 2016 election which put the right person in the White House 

Bannon speaking again !!! His opinion worth of nothing. He is a racist? clown himself. He is out of picture now, but still trying to be noisy once in a while. ???

6 hours ago, webfact said:

"There is a cabal of Republic establishment figures who believe Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States.

To be accurate this should be:

"There is a cabal of Republican establishment figures who believe Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States."

A "senior administration official" is a government appointed office nominated by the POTUS and approved by Congress.

6 hours ago, Credo said:

What I find very strange about this whole saga is that Trump never screamed 'Fake News.'   Usually, that is the first thing out of his mouth.   I mean he is being attacked by the Media again, isn't he?

 

Good point!

 

Something else. All the big players, Kelly, Huckabilly and all the others scream "Traitor" or "Coward". Yet that is exactly what they all are. Cowards for knowing the truth - traitors for letting the USA suffer as a result.

 

And another thing. Tramp to Trump supports her husband by calling the person, "Coward ' also. She too is a coward for putting up with her despicable excuse for a husband when every picture of her lemon sucking face shows she despises him.

 

Cowardice all round then, yes?

2 hours ago, zaphod reborn said:

The executive branch of the US is operating under a "soft coup".   Trump pretty much gets to do what he wants, but his military and intelligence advisors (Mattis, Kelly, Pompeo, Coats and Haspel) prevent Trump from taking actions that are whacked out or blatantly illegal (invasion of N. Korea, assassination of Maduro, etc.)

 

In that way, the US executive branch is operating similar to Myanmar, where there is a civilian "head of state", but the military and intelligence community is actually administering the government.  In other words, Trump's election has turned the U.S. into a banana republic.

 

 

erm, would that not be the same thing as Eisenhower's "military/industrial complex"???

7 minutes ago, Bundooman said:

Good point!

 

Something else. All the big players, Kelly, Huckabilly and all the others scream "Traitor" or "Coward". Yet that is exactly what they all are. Cowards for knowing the truth - traitors for letting the USA suffer as a result.

 

And another thing. Tramp to Trump supports her husband by calling the person, "Coward ' also. She too is a coward for putting up with her despicable excuse for a husband when every picture of her lemon sucking face shows she despises him.

 

Cowardice all round then, yes?

 

Bit harsh to drag the missis into it all.  Would you "come out" against your own missis in public?

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Bannon said the last time a U.S. president had been challenged in such a fashion was during the American Civil War when General George B. McClellan clashed with the then president, Abraham Lincoln.

Lol.... fake news.

 

Mcclellan didn’t clash with honest Abe... he was fired by him

 

the 1862 crisis was all republican in fighting.

 

so.... remove the reference to both McClellan and the Democratic Party, from Brannon’s comments, and then perhaps less fakish news.... and closer to the modern day equivalent of republican insiders backstabbing their republican leader, in a veiled vote of no confidence.