Former President Trump’s one-time chief strategist, the hyper-controversial Steve Bannon, now says that Trump took most of his national security advisement NOT from the government’s top military officials or from some of the most influential experts in the country.
His advice, rather, came from Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Bannon recently said, “If you don’t think Tucker Carlson has more influence on national security policy than many of the guys on the National Security Council, you’re wrong.”
“If you don’t think Tucker Carlson has more influence on national security policy than many of the guys on the National Security Council, you’re wrong.” Steve Bannon
While this claim SHOULD seem ludicrous, after all, suggesting that a talk show host with absolutely zero experience in national security could possibly be influencing the President of the United States IS outrageous BUT.
Consider where we have come in a few short years. Anyone watching the White House and Trump administration can see that this actually fits right in with Trump’s brand.
Carlson has been a big supporter of the “America First” motto and theory that has guided (misguided?) much of Trump’s time in office and has spoken out against America’s involvement in foreign wars.
So maybe that in itself doesn’t turn your head.
How about the fact that he has defended Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin time and again, particularly as Trump has been involved with a controversial and, at best, complicated relationship with him.
It has been reported for quite sometime that Carlson has had the president’s ear in matters of key foreign policy and national security decisions.
He managed to persuade the president, last minute style and in direct opposition to the Trump’s then-national security adviser, the uber conservative John Bolton, to give up his plans to bomb Iran.
A TV TALK SHOW HOST HOLDS THIS KIND OF SWAY WITH THE CURRENT AMERICAN PRESIDENT. Let that sink in.
He’s also been a guest of Trump’s on foreign trips, accompanying the president on a trip to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this past summer.
He went on to defend Trump for meeting the North Korean leader, even though that leader boasts one of THE worst human rights records in the entire world, even saying that killing people was sometimes just part of the job.
Trump has a reputation for not trusting government officials or intelligence agencies and recently, former deputy director of national intelligence Susan Gordon revealed that Trump often disagreed and pushed back during his daily intelligence meetings.
She said that even as prominent evidence was presented by trusted experts and advisers, Trump would resist.
Bannon was ousted from Trump’s close tribe of trusted confidants but there was a time that he was one of the big champions for the very “America First” policies Carlson is so vehemently backing.
He has long defended Trump’s unconventional way of governing.
