Donald J. Trump’s “fine-tuned machine” has been misfiring almost since the jalopy rolled into the White House.
Now we hear that senior policy adviser Steven Bannon and the president’s son-in-law/adviser Jared Kushner are at each other’s throats almost daily.
Is this how a “fine-tuned machine” runs, Mr. President? Many of us out here in the peanut gallery don’t think that’s the case.
The president vowed to surround himself with the “best people” ever assembled to run the government’s executive branch.
Bannon came on board after serving as editor of Breitbart News, the ultra-right wing media outlet. Kushner married well, as he is Ivanka Trump’s husband. Neither man has government experience. They’re both strong-willed, however, which might explain why they are fighting constantly.
Here’s another wrinkle.
Until this week, Bannon had a seat on the principals committee of the National Security Council. Then the president moved him off the panel.
Bannon’s been fighting with Kushner for weeks. The president loves his daughter and doesn’t want her husband injured while butting heads with Bannon.
Hmmm. Is there linkage between the bickering inside the West Wing and Bannon’s demotion from the principals committee?
Break out the lube oil, Mr. President.