Key Backer Abandons Bannon

Thursday was not a good day for Steve Bannon—or the revolution against the GOP establishment he hoped to lead this year. Allies are abandoning the former White House strategist after his split with President Trump, including Breitbart co-owner Rebekah Mercer, a key financial backer. "I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected," she said Thursday, per the AP. "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." Later Thursday, Trump said people should "watch what happens" to "Sloppy Steve."

Mercer said she remained committed to supporting Breitbart News, which led to speculation that Bannon could be ousted as chairman, though sources tell the New York Times that he seemed confident about keeping his job in an editorial conference call Thursday night. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said firing Bannon is something Breitbart "should look at and consider." Other donors—and some Bannon-supported GOP candidates—are also distancing themselves from him, some out of fear of alienating the White House. "The president's take is that everyone has to now make a choice: 'It's me or it's Steve,'" an insider tells the Washington Post. (Trump's lawyers accuse Bannon of violating a nondisclosure agreement by speaking to author Michael Wolff.)