Priebus argued Trump’s choice of Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court and his orders to reduce regulations were among his most significant moves and deserved more attention.
Bannon also cited Trump’s decision to scrap the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which he said was the start of a new push to cultivate “bilateral trading relationships with people that will reposition America in the world as a fair trading nation.”
There are major policy implications at stake to the Bannon-Priebus partnership.
Trump has yet to unveil a complete policy prescription for health care, immigration, taxes, and legal immigration, among other topics, all of which are major battlegrounds between different Republican factions. Not surprisingly, Republicans in each camp have watched the White House for any hint of which of their worldviews ends up swaying Trump.
The Bannon-Priebus relationship, and their relative influence in the White House, has been a source of constant speculation since Trump named them to coequal positions during the transition.
“I cherish his friendship,” Priebus, the White House chief of staff, said of Bannon, the president’s senior adviser. He called his counterpart “dogged” and “loyal” and “consistent.”
Bannon, in turn, described Priebus as “indefatigable” and “steady.” Priebus said they worked together nearly every moment of the day, from 6:30 in the morning to 11 at night.
