Did Steve Bannon steal the limelight and frustrate President Trump?

As Donald Trump's chief strategist, Steve Bannon
was the man behind the curtain.
For many, he was the main architect of the
President's successful populist election campaign.
But, despite helping the President win the Oval
Office, after seven months his time at the White
House is over .
A statement confirmed: "Chief of Staff John Kelly
and Steve Bannon have mutually agreed today would
be Steve's last day.
"We are grateful for his service and wish him well."
Regardless of the official line, US news outlets are
speculating whether he jumped or whether he was
pushed.
The New York Times has reported that Mr Bannon
actually resigned on 7 August but the announcement
was delayed by the violence in Virginia.
Others claim he was asked to leave.
Whatever eventually led to his departure, the fact
that he has gone is no surprise.
Mr Bannon has always been viewed as a highly
divisive figure both inside and outside the White
House.
Mr Trump got to know him after appearing multiple
times on his Breitbart radio show.
Later, ideas he had discussed on-air would morph
into some of the administration's more controversial
policies, such as the travel ban.
The ability to capitalise on populist anger bonded the
two men but Mr Bannon's role in the bitter infighting
within Mr Trump's inner circle reportedly put him at
odds with new chief of staff Mr Kelly.
The deadly clashes in Virginia during the weekend
also prompted calls for him to be ousted.
Mr Trump has been under fire for seemingly
defending white supremacists and many view Mr
Bannon as a symbol of the alt-right.
A perception that he was stealing the limelight may
have also frustrated his boss.
It was reported that Mr Trump was unhappy when Mr
Bannon appeared on the front of Time magazine
earlier in the year, so an interview with American
Prospect magazine this week where he directly
contradicted the President's strategy in North Korea
is unlikely to have been welcomed.
Whatever the reason, while Democrats celebrate his
departure, some on the right are angry.
Nineteen conservative groups called on the President
to keep him while Breitbart editor Joel Pollak tweeted
"#WAR".
Mr Bannon has returned to his post as executive
chairman of the right-wing publication.
And for the moment it seems Mr Bannon is still
fighting for his former boss, telling Bloomberg: "I'm
leaving the White House and going to war for Trump
against his opponents - on Capitol Hill, in the media,
and in corporate America."
The challenge for Mr Trump is ensuring he continues
to toe the company line and doesn't gather his
troops and take aim at the President.

Tweet