Bannon's ouster creates controversy over Trump's future

OAKLAND, Calif (KTVU) - The departure of President Trump's White House advisor Steve Bannon Friday created concern from some far right wing conservatives and relief from moderate Republicans.

Bannon joined forces with the Trump campaign around a nationalist and populist agenda that led Bannon from chief strategist to a spot in the West Wing.

Friction between Bannon and the president, however, emerged earlier in the week at a news conference where the President did not elaborate on whether Bannon would continue with the administration..

"He's a good man. He is not a racist," the President said, "But, we'll see what happens with Mr. Bannon."

On Friday, a White House spokeswoman said "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 the best."

"Steve Bannon helped bring in the conservative wing of the Republican party and get people behind President Trump and that might have be the most important contribution that he made," said conservative talk radio host Chris Plante.

Bannon is credited for bringing the so called "alt-right" groups behind the President, and his exit came amid President Trump's highly criticized reaction to the August 12th white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The environmental group Sierra Club wrote "Good riddance to Steve Bannon, as his disgraceful brand of hate and vitriol deserves no place in the White House."

"Personnel changes are worthless so long as President Trump continues to advance policies that disgrace our cherished American values," wrote House Minority Leader and San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi.

Friction between Bannon and President Trump had reportedly been growing. Bannon attacked White House colleagues this week in an interview with the left-wing American Prospect magazine, and directly contradicted President Trump's North Korea statements. It was the eighth public departure from President Trump's positions by Bannon since the beginning of the presidency.

Ron Cohen, a Fremont Republican praised Bannon.

"He's one of my heroes. I wish I could be half the American that he is," Cohen said, adding that he feels Bannon was important for ensuring the president stayed focused on delivering campaign promises.

"I think it's very helpful to the president to have somebody who is a pure ideologue. I mean Bannon makes no apologies about it. He says this is my view of America and what got us to where we are and where we need to be which Donald Trump largely agreed with," said Cohen.

Right wing Republicans say dumping Bannon could alienate President Trump's most conservative supporters.

Other Republicans say President Trump must shift to the reality of running the government in Washington and away from Bannon's no-compromise campaign mode

"I think it's a very good thing that he's leaving the White House," said Alameda County Republican Party Vice-Chair Roseann Slonsky-Breault, speaking about Bannon.

"He did a good job in the very beginning and he probably could do a good job for somebody else, but Trump doesn't need that," said Slonsky-Breault.

Bannon returned to Breitbart as Executive Chairman and employees say he led the editorial meeting Friday evening. Bannon has vowed to continue fighting the President's enemies.