Bannon loses his title but not his power in the White House

When Donald Trump reorganized his National Security Council and removed his political strategist Steve Bannon from an unprecedented permanent seat on the principals committee of the NSC, speculation abounded that Bannon’s power within the White House was waning:

.@CillizzaCNN: The removal of Steve Bannon suggests a potentially significant change in the balance of power https://t.co/wzkpH1ga74 pic.twitter.com/AmbwGE2x5n

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 5, 2017

There were even unfounded rumors that Bannon had been stripped of his security clearance:

WHOA: Steve Bannon removed from National Security Council, stripped of security clearance. https://t.co/GPKb8eVse1

— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) April 5, 2017

https://twitter.com/SteveKopack/status/849657282405298176

However, when the dust settled, it became clear the reshuffling of the NSC was not an indication of any change in Bannon’s power in the White House and that he, in fact, maintains the highest level of security clearance for the West Wing.

In all likelihood, the reorganization was to correct a mistake made by Trump in his earliest days in office, when he unknowingly signed the Presidential Memorandum giving Bannon a seat on the principals committee in the first place. In addition, Bannon will reportedly continue to attend the NSC meetings, indicating he retains Trump’s confidence.

Trump was never comfortable with Bannon on the NSC, another White House official tells me.

https://t.co/izXFdNsH1F

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 5, 2017

HOWEVER, Bannon's removal from National Security Council doesn't indicate any erosion of his influence in White House, the official told me. https://t.co/994bUUZ0Sf

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 5, 2017

Bannon will continue to attend National Security Council meetings–including the one this afternoon, top official told me. https://t.co/q2YTa613DY

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 5, 2017

In an interview with Fox News, Mike Pence confirmed that Bannon was not being demoted:

NEW – VP Pence on @FoxNews says changing NSC roles for Bannon, Bossert not a demotion – more tonight with @marthamaccallum 7pmET pic.twitter.com/ccPcwWiDDr

— Chris Snyder (@ChrisSnyderFox) April 5, 2017

Most importantly, focusing on the chaos and intrigue of internal White House dynamics serves as a distraction from the harmful actions of the administration. As authoritarianism expert Sarah Kendzior has previously noted, leaders like Trump frequently change and reposition their staff to distract from their own corrupt activities, to keep their advisors pitted against one another and loyal only to their leader, and to lay the groundwork for externalizing blame for their own failures.

In short, as much as we might wish it were true, there is no evidence Bannon’s power within the White House has changed at all.