Fox News host Megyn Kelly said Tuesday that even though Donald Trump promised Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon would be co-equals in the White House, Bannon will likely have the most influence.
Speaking on ABC Tuesday, Kelly said Bannon is known as one of the more influential members of Trump’s inner circle — more than Priebus, the chair of the Republican National Committee.
“It could be a little awkward, but what I’m hearing is that Steve Bannon will really be in charge, that he’s the Trump whisperer,” Kelly said. “What we’re told is Steve Bannon will really have the ear of Donald Trump.”
Bannon’s appointment has caused an uproar among Democrats, who have ripped his past work as the leader of Breitbart News. Breitbart has been called a home for the alt-right, which many Democrats say is code for the white nationalist movement, and Bannon has been accused of green-lighting sexist, racist and anti-Semitic stories.
The appointments of Bannon as chief White House strategist and Priebus as chief of staff were widely seen as Trump trying to reach out to both sides of his support, the Republican establishment in Priebus and the alt-right wing with Bannon.
Kelly said Priebus could be in charge of marshaling lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
“I don’t know what that means for Reince Priebus,” Kelly said. “Maybe President-elect Trump needs somebody who knows how to work the Hill and make staffing decisions.”
