The 'humiliated' media should 'keep its mouth shut' recommends top Trump adviser Steve Bannon - calling press the 'opposition party'
- In a call today to the New York Times, Donald Trump's chief strategist Stephen Bannon, who formerly ran Breitbart News, unloaded on the mainstream media
- He suggested that the press should be 'embarrassed' for not predicting the win of Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton
- Bannon laughed at the idea that White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer had lost credibility with reporters - saying those reporters had no credibility
President Donald Trump's chief strategist Stephen Bannon went off about the mainstream media to reporter for the New York Times.
'The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for awhile,' Bannon said during a phone call with the Times' Michael Grynbaum, which was reported on today.
Bannon labeled the media the 'opposition party' and suggested that its members were 'humiliated' by the election of President Trump, as many outlets predicted a different victor – Democrat Hillary Clinton – in last year's presidential election.
Chief strategist of President Donald Trump, Stephen Bannon, went on a tirade against the press today as he talked on the phone with a New York Times reporter
Steve Bannon (right), seen with top Trump aide Kellyanne Conway (left), called the mainstream media the 'opposition party' against the Trump White House
'They don’t understand this country,' he continued. 'They still do not understand why Donald Trump is the president of the United States.'
Bannon's comments come after a rough couple of days between the Trump administration and the press, with mainstream media organizations questioning Trump for statements he's given on his inaugural crowd size and what he contends was widespread voter fraud.
It was Bannon, the Times revealed, who was one of the president's advisers who suggested Press Secretary Sean Spicer make his first appearance in the White House press briefing room Saturday and tear into the press.
Grynbaum had called Bannon to ask him if he thought Spicer should be worried about losing credibility with the news media, after making bold pronouncements about inaugural crowd size and logistics, which couldn't be fully backed up.
Bannon, Grynbaum wrote, 'chortled' and then gave his response.
'Are you kidding me?' he responded. 'We think that's a badge of honor. "Questioning the integrity" – are you kidding me?'
'The media has zero integrity, zero intelligence, and no hard work,' continued Bannon, who had run right-wing news site Breitbart before being tapped to work for Trump.
'You're the opposition party,' Bannon said. 'Not the Democratic Party. You're the opposition party. The media's the opposition party.'
While he referred to media in question as 'elite' or 'mainstream' he uttered the Washington Post and the New York Times by name.
'The paper of record for our beloved republic, The New York Times, should be absolutely ashamed and humiliated,' Bannon said to the New York Times reporter.
'They got it 100 percent wrong.'
Most watched News videos
- Shia LaBeouf arrested during livestream rant against Trump
- Baby Theodore settles into White House in Ivanka Instagram video
- American soldier Jose Medina shares a dance with Melania Trump
- Noisy protest in library is brought to an abrupt end
- Seaman captures scariest moments from being on North Sea
- Hundreds watch migrant attempt at drowning himself
- Terrifying footage of seaplane crashing into Perth's Swan River
- It's real! Trump's bodyguard moves his hand
- Russian roulette taser game proves a hit in San Francisco bar
- Dangerous driver overtakes at red light for absolutely no gain
- Horrific footage of a plane crashing into Perth's Swan River
- Sleepy dog tries to stay awake as he and owner watch movie together
- Next stop, Necker Island: Barack and Michelle Obama are all...
- Trump's migrant crackdown: The President will start building...
- What happens when you wear a Trump hat in NYC? Controversial...
- PIERS MORGAN: Memo to anyone who voted for Trump or Brexit -...
- Chelsea Handler is accused of immigrant-shaming Melania for...
- 'Nobody believes they're twins!': Adorable girls with...
- Horrifying home security video shows home aide HITTING an...
- Sportscaster Erin Andrews reveals her secret battle with...
- Kellyanne Conway allegedly punched a tuxedo-clad man...
- Single mother, 29, and her two young children are missing...
- Outrage at woman Secret Service agent and Clinton supporter...
- The man with the world's longest penis is offered a part in...