H.R. McMaster dodges questions when asked about Steve Bannon
Trump's national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, repeatedly dodged questions on Sunday when NBC's Chuck Todd pressed the lieutenant general on whether he and Steve Bannon can work in the same White House.
From former chief of staff Reince Priebus to Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, reports of Bannon -- who previously ran the nationalist Breitbart website -- butting heads with others in Trump's inner circle are nothing new. Latest internal descriptions of White House culture describe Bannon as at odds with McMaster, and Anthony Scaramucci hinted on Sunday that Bannon's days as the White House chief strategist might be numbered.
During a "Meet the Press" interview, Todd asked McMaster about this reported drama three times, and three times McMaster refused to answer.
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"Can you and Steve Bannon still work together in this White House or not?" Todd initially asked.
"I get to work together with a broad range of talented people, and it is a privilege every day to enable the national security team," McMaster answered.
Todd asked again.
"You didn't answer. Can you and Steve Bannon work in that same White House?" Todd asked again.
"I am, I am ready to work with anybody who will help advance the president's agenda and advance the security, prosperity of the American people," McMaster said.
SEE ALSO: Is Steve Bannon next to be ousted from the White House?
Todd tried a different approach, asking more broadly about Bannon.
"Do you believe Steve Bannon does that?" Todd asked.
"I believe that everyone who works in the White House who has the privilege, the great privilege every day of serving their nation should be motivated by that goal," McMaster said.
