# Did Trump not know that he was giving Bannon a seat on the NSC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 6, 2017, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149 "2017-02-06T08:25:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/1 "2017-02-06T08:25:26Z")
An article in Sunday’s New York Times contains an interesting statement that it just throws out there with no further explanation. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/05/us/politics/trump-white-house-aides-strategy.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/05/us/politics/trump-white-house-aides-strategy.html) > [@](#): > > But for the moment, Mr. Bannon remains the president’s dominant adviser, despite Mr. Trump’s anger that he was not fully briefed on details of the executive order he signed giving his chief strategist a seat on the National Security Council, a greater source of frustration to the president than the fallout from the travel ban. So now I’m envisioning those scenes in MASH where Radar hands one sheet after another to Henry who dutifully signs them without reading. Is there any truth to it? Who knows? Hopefully there’ll be more information forthcoming. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/2 "2017-02-06T09:27:13Z")
Wow. Not “fully briefed” on the “details” of his own (?) executive order. I though executive orders were about the ONLY thing a president wouldn’t need to have explained to him, since they supposedly originate with him. I’d even give a president a pass on speeches (often mainly the product of several writers), but an executive order? Wow. Who’s running this shitshow? ETA: Sorry if I broke the rule about political jabs in breaking news. Ahem, “who’s running this delightful, well-oiled machine of an administration?” ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/3 "2017-02-06T12:05:13Z")
Unbelievable. How can that possibly happen? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/4 "2017-02-06T12:19:38Z")
The NYT writes that: > [@](#): > > This account of the early days of the Trump White House is based on interviews with dozens of government officials, congressional aides, former staff members and other observers of the new administration, many of whom requested anonymity. but we can’t really know how many sources corroborated this one statement. I’d hope they’re currently not relying on any single source for claims of this magnitude. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/5 "2017-02-06T12:19:46Z")
Off-topic – sorry – but more gems from that fascinating article: “He often has to wait until the end of the workday before grinding through news clips with Mr. Spicer, marking the ones he does not like with a big arrow in black Sharpie.” “For a man who sometimes has trouble concentrating on policy memos, Mr. Trump was delighted to page through a book that offered him 17 window covering options.” ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/6 "2017-02-06T12:51:06Z")
> [@naita](#): > > The NYT writes that: > > but we can’t really know how many sources corroborated this one statement. I’d hope they’re currently not relying on any single source for claims of this magnitude. I do wonder who would leak something like Trump not knowing what he’s signing. Certainly Bannon would be extremely close-mouthed about that. Of course an angry Trump may loudly complain about such things (much to the consternation of Bannon). ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/7 "2017-02-06T14:49:01Z")
On one hand I could see Trump be that uninvolved and uncaring about the details. On the other I could see him lie and lie some more to distance himself from something he now knows is unpopular and stupid. Either way he’s a poor commander in chief. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/8 "2017-02-06T16:16:54Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > On the other I could see him lie and lie some more to distance himself from something he now knows is unpopular and stupid. Either way he’s a poor commander in chief. I think it’s unlikely that he would use the anonymous remarks of an aide to distance himself from a policy that he continues to support enthusiastically in public. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/9 "2017-02-06T16:25:44Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I think it’s unlikely that he would use the anonymous remarks of an aide to distance himself from a policy that he continues to support enthusiastically in public. Has he publicly supported placing Bannon on the NSC? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/10 "2017-02-07T02:14:40Z")
I started to read that article this morning and quickly stopped. Whether true or not, it read like a hatchet job. They would need a lot more evidence than ‘anonymous sources’ to actually sell anything that they’re putting down, when there’s no inkling of impartiality. I’m sure that the article will annoy the hell out of Trump, but it’s a hindrance to de-polarizing politics, not an aid. As many have said, the Democratic party needs to start embracing the rural center of the US, not attacking their leader. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/11 "2017-02-07T02:56:13Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > As many have said, the Democratic party needs to start embracing the rural center of the US, not attacking their leader. I’m sure the party will be happy to, once those voters agree that certain demographics are actual human beings deserving of basic rights. ---
**Author:** ![pidgeon92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@pidgeon92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pidgeon92)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/12 "2017-02-07T04:08:55Z")
The man is suffering from dementia. He has no reading comprehension. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/13 "2017-02-07T04:52:46Z")
It’s the Sharpie fumes that are to blame! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/14 "2017-02-07T16:21:32Z")
Does it stop him from looting the government for his own profit? No. So, he doesn’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/15 "2017-02-07T18:53:33Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Unbelievable. How can that possibly happen? Have you ever read one of those executive orders? Generally, they’re boring as hell, even to someone like me who reads boring documents for a living. Given Trump’s known aversion to reading anything at all, it would be no surprise to me if he hasn’t read any of his orders in detail, relying instead on someone like Bannon to “summarize” them for him. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/16 "2017-02-07T21:18:23Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > … relying instead on someone like Bannon to “summarize” them for him. I’ve been wondering how Mr. Trump would sign this order without being “fully briefed” - even though it has the effect of his advisor attaining a position of significant influence. Either Mr. Trump is weighed down with hubris, in that he does not expect his “advisor” to usurp his powers (and Mr Bannon has no apparent issues in being the “power behind the thrown”) or Mr. Trump is so out of his depth and naive that he trusts Mr. Bannon implicitly. Neither outcome bodes well. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/17 "2017-02-07T21:23:56Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Have you ever read one of those executive orders? Generally, they’re boring as hell, even to someone like me who reads boring documents for a living. Given Trump’s known aversion to reading anything at all, it would be no surprise to me if he hasn’t read any of his orders in detail, relying instead on someone like Bannon to “summarize” them for him. I expect the summary to go something like “This will piss off the Democrats, the press and some Republicans. Sign here.” ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/18 "2017-02-07T21:39:57Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > It’s the Sharpie fumes that are to blame! So is the sharpie because he’s not allowed sharp instruments? ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/19 "2017-02-07T22:02:51Z")
> [@pidgeon92](#): > > The man is suffering from dementia. He has no reading comprehension. Articles [like this](http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/what-would-it-look-like-hypothetically-if-a-public-fi-1792052074)make me think that’s a distinct (and frightening) possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149/20 "2017-02-07T22:09:43Z")
[Relevant clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WolIS6PfJfQ) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-not-know-that-he-was-giving-bannon-a-seat-on-the-nsc/779149.md?page=2)