Donald Trump's team causes deep concern in Washington

7 years ago

Donald Trump's team causes deep concern in Washington

Most controversial is the appointment of Steve Bannon, formerly chairman of controversial right-wing propaganda and news website Breitbart, who will be his chief strategist.

He is about to be one of the most powerful men in the White House and under his control at Breitbart, the website put out stories with headlines branding someone a "Renegade Jew".

They also included "Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Lazy" and "The Solution to Online Harassment is Simple: Women should just log off".

Steve Bannon
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Steve Bannon is a controversial figure
Mr Bannon's ex-wife said he did not want his children to go to school with Jews.

He has denied the claim, but his appointment has caused a furore among Jewish groups and civil rights groups.

He is part of what is called the alt-right movement (alternative right), a loose knit group of hard-right ideologies that rejects more conventional conservative thought and politics.

The movement is accused of providing cover for far-right ideology, including white supremacist thought.

His appointment has been lambasted by those on the left but is also worrying some on the right.

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He has been deeply critical of some in the Republican establishment and on Capitol Hill.

Balancing his appointment, Reince Priebus will become White House Chief of Staff.

He has been chairman of the Republican National Committee, running the Republican party machine.

A conventional politician, he understands how to get things done in Washington.

But his appointment is less in line with Mr Trump's campaign promise to upend the political elite in the nation's capital.

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Mr Trump said he wanted to drain the Washington "swamp" of influence peddling and lobbyists. He has appointed several lobbyists to key jobs in his transition team.

People who have been paid millions by corporations will be picking the people to run the Trump government.

And there is concern about Mr Trump's climate adviser.

The President-elect believes that global warming is a hoax invented by the Chinese.

His adviser Myron Ebell wrote a piece called "Love Global Warming".

In it, he asked people to look on the bright side of climate change, which the vast majority of scientists believe to be man-made and catastrophic if left unchecked.

"Life in many places would become more pleasant," he wrote.

"Instead of 20 below zero in January in Saskatoon, it might be only 10 below. Fewer people will die from the cold."