US President Donald Trump has withdrawn his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, from the National Security Council after it was decided he was no longer needed on the key foreign policy group, a senior White House official said this evening.
Mr Bannon's removal from the NSC, which includes senior members of Mr Trump's foreign policy team, was seen as a boost to national security adviser HR McMaster, who officials said has struggled to work with Mr Bannon.
A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mr Bannon's presence on the NSC was no longer needed after the departure of Mr Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn.
Mr Flynn was forced to resign in February over his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kisylak, prior to Mr Trump taking office on 20 January.
The official said Mr Bannon had been placed on the NSC originally as a check on Mr Flynn and had only ever attended one of the NSC's regular meetings.
