WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has claimed the Republican establishment is trying to nullify President Donald Trump's victory in last year's election.
In an interview with CBS's '60 Minutes' that will air on Sunday, Bannon singled out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
'They do not want Donald Trump's populist, economic nationalist agenda to be implemented,' Bannon said. 'It's very obvious. It's obvious as night follows day.'
Bannon claimed McConnell asked Trump in one of their first meetings to back off his 'drain the swamp' talk about corruption in Washington.
'The 'Drain the Swamp' thing was -- is Mitch McConnell was day one did not wanna go there. Wanted us to back off,' Bannon said.
CBS anchor Charlie Rose noted Bannon was attacking people Trump needs help from to accomplish his agenda, but the executive chairman of Breitbart News was undeterred.
'They're not gonna help you unless they're put on notice,' Bannon said. 'They're gonna be held accountable if they do not support the President of the United States.'
'Right now there's no accountability,' he added. 'They do not support the president's program. It's an open secret on Capitol Hill. Everybody in this city knows it.'
(Photo: Michael Vadon)
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