News and Music Discovery
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Yarmuth, House Dems Ask Trump To Rescind Bannon Appointment

official photo, public domain

Congressman John Yarmuth and more than 140 other Democratic representatives are calling on President-Elect Donald Trump to rescind the appointment of Breitbart News executive Steve Bannon as chief strategist. Bannon has been criticized for being anti-Semitic and racist.

In an open letter sent to President-elect Trump, the House Democrats criticized Bannon for his oversight of Breitbart News, which they say promotes anti-Semitism, xenophobia and racism.

Bannon was Trump’s campaign chief from August through Election Day. At the Republican National Convention Bannon bragged that Breitbart was the quote “platform for the alt-right,” a blurry right-wing movement sometimes associated with White Nationalism.

In the letter, House Democrats said that the White House chief strategist “should be prepared to serve the interests of all Americans, not those of a select few.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Sen. Rand Paul said opposition to Bannon’s appointment was simply “sour grapes” over the election.

“I’ve met him, I don’t think he’s a caricature of any of these horrible things ‘the left’ is bringing out about him, I don’t believe him to be a racist, I don’t believe him to be anyone who categorizes anybody based on their race or otherwise or their religion," Paul said.

Over the summer, Bannon bragged that Breitbart was the quote “platform for the alt-right,” a blurry right-wing movement sometimes associated with White Nationalism.

Bannon was Trump’s campaign CEO from August through Election Day.

Ryland Barton is the Managing Editor for Collaboratives for Kentucky Public Radio, a group of public radio stations including WKMS, WFPL in Louisville, WEKU in Richmond and WKYU in Bowling Green. A native of Lexington, Ryland most recently served as the Capitol Reporter for Kentucky Public Radio. He has covered politics and state government for NPR member stations KWBU in Waco and KUT in Austin.
Related Content