NYT: Bannon Threatened to Quit Over NSC Removal

The White House is insisting that Steve Bannon's removal from the National Security Council is not a demotion, but it was a move the strategist strongly resisted, according to the New York Times' sources. The insiders say that at one point, Bannon said he would quit if he were pulled from the NSC, though Bannon's team denies that any such threat was made. The Times' sources also say that Bannon's position as White House strategist has been undermined by missteps, including the failure of Trump's first executive order and of an ultimatum issued to House holdouts on the ObamaCare replacement. Trump has also been stung by portrayals of Bannon as a puppetmaster who has the real power in the White House, insiders say. (More Steve Bannon stories.)