Trump defends Bannon against charges of racism

Donald Trump defended his embattled adviser Steve Bannon in a meeting with the New York Times on Tuesday, saying he wouldn’t have hired him if he believed Bannon to be racist.

Speaking to the paper at an on-the-record meeting that was live-tweeted by Times reporters, Trump said the criticism Bannon has received for giving a platform to the “alt-right” movement through Breitbart News was unfair.

On Bannon:"If I thought he was a racist or alt-right or any of the things, the terms we could use, I wouldn't even think about hiring him."

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016

Trump on Bannon: "I think it's very hard on him. I think he's having a hard time with it. Because it's not him."

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016

Trump sought to diminish concerns about Breitbart’s “alt-right” bent, describing it as “just a publication” that leans conservative.

Trump is asked about concerns from minority groups about Breitbart News’s coverage under Steve Bannon. His reply: pic.twitter.com/FBqCGwQpBr

— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016

Bannon served as campaign chairman for Trump and was one of his first hires as president-elect, joining the White House team as chief strategist.

He is a controversial figure, formerly serving as chairman of Breitbart News, a right-wing website that has been embraced by the “alt-right.”

There has been an uproar over his position within the White House, which has provoked an outcry from some who have called him a white nationalist, a racist and an anti-Semite.

Trump’s transition team has repeatedly defended Bannon, arguing critics are unfairly depicting him.