Billionaire donor distances herself from Bannon’s ‘political agenda’

An influential conservative donor on Thursday distanced herself from the “political agenda” of President Trump’s former chief strategist Stephen Bannon, amid his feud with the president.

“I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected,” billionaire conservative donor Rebekah Mercer said in a statement, according to The Washington Post.

“My family and I have not communicated with Steve Bannon in many months and have provided no financial support to his political agenda, nor do we support his recent actions and statements,” she continued. 

{mosads}Mercer’s statement on Thursday comes after Washington was rocked by author Michael Wolff’s new book, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” in which Bannon is quoted criticizing the administration and its key players. 

The Mercers are part-owners of Breitbart News, where Bannon is executive chairman. Mercer told The Washington Post she is still supporting Breitbart. However, The Wall Street Journal reported that on Thursday, members of the board including Mercer met to discuss whether they want to remove Bannon as chair.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said earlier in the day that Breitbart should consider cutting ties with Bannon. 

The Washington Post previously reported that Mercer was frustrated with Bannon’s handling of the Alabama Senate race, and had pulled her funding after he told other major conservative donors that Mercer would support him in his own presidential bid.