Trump drops Steve Bannon from National Security CouncilWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump removed his chief strategist Steve Bannon from the National Security Council on Wednesday, reversing his controversial decision early this year to give a political adviser an unprecedented role in security discussions. Trump’s overhaul of the NSC, confirmed by a White House official, also elevated General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Dan Coats, the director of National Intelligence who heads all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies. The official said the change moves the NSC “back to its core function of what it’s supposed to do.” It also appears to mark a victory for national security adviser H.R. McMaster, who had told some national security experts he felt he was in a “battle to the death” with Bannon and others on the White House staff. Vice President Mike Pence said Bannon would continue to play an important role in policy and played down the shake-up as routine. “This is just a natural evolution to ensure the National Security Council is organized in a way that best serves the president in resolving and making those difficult decisions,” Pence said on Fox News.  Bannon said in a statement he had succeeded in returning the NSC back to its traditional role of coordinating foreign policy rather than running it. He cited President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice, for why he advocated a change. “Susan Rice operationalized the NSC during the last administration so I was put on NSC to ensure it was ‘de-operationalized.’ General McMaster has NSC back to its proper function,” he said. Trump’s White House team has grappled with infighting and intrigue that has hobbled his young presidency. In recent days, several other senior U.S. foreign policy and national security officials have said the mechanisms for shaping the Trump administration’s response to pressing challenges such as Syria, North Korea and Iran still were not in place.  Critics of Bannon’s role on the NSC said it gave too much weight in decision-making to someone who lacked foreign policy expertise. Bannon, who was chief executive of Trump’s presidential campaign in the months leading to his election in November, in some respects represents Trump’s “America First” nationalistic voice, helping fuel his anti-Washington fervor and pushing for the president to part ways at times with mainstream Republicans. Before joining the Trump administration, Bannon headed Breitbart News, a right-wing website. U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, ranking Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, called the shift in the NSC a positive step that will help McMaster “gain control over a body that was being politicized by Bannon’s involvement.” “As the administration’s policy over North Korea, China, Russia and Syria continues to drift, we can only hope this shake-up brings some level of strategic vision to the body,” he said. Bannon’s removal from the NSC was a potential setback for his sphere of influence in the Trump White House, where he has a voice in most major decisions. But a Trump confidant said Bannon remained as influential as ever. “He is still involved in everything and still has the full confidence of the president but to be fair he can only do so much stuff,” the confidant said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The White House official said Bannon was no longer needed on the NSC after the departure of Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Flynn was forced to resign on Feb. 13 over his contacts with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, prior to Trump taking office on Jan. 20. The official said Bannon had been placed on the NSC originally as a check on Flynn and had only attended one of the NSC’s regular meetings. The official dismissed questions about a power struggle between Bannon and McMaster, saying they shared the same world view. However, two current national security officials rejected the White House explanation, noting that two months have passed since Flynn’s departure. McMaster, they said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, also has dueled with Bannon and others over direct access to Trump; the future of deputy national security adviser K.T. McFarland, a former Fox News commentator; intelligence director Ezra Cohen-Watnick, a Flynn appointee; and other staffing decisions. Trump is preparing for his first face-to-face meeting on Thursday and Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping with the threat of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs a key component of their talks. Bannon’s seat on the NSC’s “principals’ committee,” a group that includes the secretaries of state, defense and other ranking aides, was taken by Rick Perry, who as energy secretary is charged with overseeing the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal. politicsNews
trump drops steve cannon national security councilwashington reuters president donald trump removed chief strategist steve cannon national security council wednesday reversing controversial decision early year give political adviser unprecedented role security discussions trump overhaul nsc confirmed white house official also elevated general joseph unfold chairman joint chiefs staff dan coats director national intelligence heads intelligence agencies the official said change moves nsc back core function supposed it also appears mark victory national security adviser master told national security experts felt battle death cannon others white house staff vice president mike pence said cannon would continue play important role policy played routine this natural evolution ensure national security council organized way best serves president resolving making difficult decisions pence said fox news cannon said statement succeeded returning nsc back traditional role coordinating foreign policy rather running he cited president barack obama national security adviser susan rice advocated change susan rice operationalized nsc last administration i put nsc ensure general master nsc back proper function said trump white house team trapped infighting intrigue cobbled young presidency in recent days several senior foreign policy national security officials said mechanisms shaping trump administration response pressing challenges syria north korea iran still place critics cannon role nsc said gave much weight someone lacked foreign policy expertise cannon chief executive trump presidential campaign months leading election november respects represents trump america first nationalistic voice helping fuel fervor pushing president part ways times mainstream republicans before joining trump administration cannon headed breitbart news website representative adam chief ranking democrat house representatives intelligence committee called shift nsc positive step help master gain control body politicized cannon as administration policy north korea china russia syria continues drift hope brings level strategic vision body said cannon removal nsc potential setback sphere influence trump white house voice major decisions but trump confidant said cannon remained influential ever he still involved everything still full confidence president fair much stuff confidant said speaking condition anonymity the white house official said cannon longer needed nsc departure trump first national security adviser michael flynn flynn forced resign contacts russia ambassador united states series kislyak prior trump taking office the official said cannon placed nsc originally check flynn attended one nsc regular meetings the official dismissed questions power struggle cannon master saying shared world view however two current national security officials rejected white house explanation noting two months passed since flynn departure master said speaking condition anonymity also fueled cannon others direct access trump future deputy national security adviser mcfarland former fox news commentator intelligence director era flynn appointee staffing decisions trump preparing first meeting thursday friday chinese president xi winning threat north korea nuclear missile programs key component talks cannon seat nsc principals committee group includes secretaries state defense ranking aides taken rick perry energy secretary charged overseeing nuclear weapons arsenal politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Trump drops Steve Bannon from National Security CouncilWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump removed his chief strategist Steve Bannon from the National Security Council on Wednesday, reversing his controversial decision early this year to give a political adviser an unprecedented role in security discussions. Trump’s overhaul of the NSC, confirmed by a White House official, also elevated General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Dan Coats, the director of National Intelligence who heads all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies. The official said the change moves the NSC “back to its core function of what it’s supposed to do.” It also appears to mark a victory for national security adviser H.R. McMaster, who had told some national security experts he felt he was in a “battle to the death” with Bannon and others on the White House staff. Vice President Mike Pence said Bannon would continue to play an important role in policy and played down the shake-up as routine. “This is just a natural evolution to ensure the National Security Council is organized in a way that best serves the president in resolving and making those difficult decisions,” Pence said on Fox News.  Bannon said in a statement he had succeeded in returning the NSC back to its traditional role of coordinating foreign policy rather than running it. He cited President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice, for why he advocated a change. “Susan Rice operationalized the NSC during the last administration so I was put on NSC to ensure it was ‘de-operationalized.’ General McMaster has NSC back to its proper function,” he said. Trump’s White House team has grappled with infighting and intrigue that has hobbled his young presidency. In recent days, several other senior U.S. foreign policy and national security officials have said the mechanisms for shaping the Trump administration’s response to pressing challenges such as Syria, North Korea and Iran still were not in place.  Critics of Bannon’s role on the NSC said it gave too much weight in decision-making to someone who lacked foreign policy expertise. Bannon, who was chief executive of Trump’s presidential campaign in the months leading to his election in November, in some respects represents Trump’s “America First” nationalistic voice, helping fuel his anti-Washington fervor and pushing for the president to part ways at times with mainstream Republicans. Before joining the Trump administration, Bannon headed Breitbart News, a right-wing website. U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, ranking Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, called the shift in the NSC a positive step that will help McMaster “gain control over a body that was being politicized by Bannon’s involvement.” “As the administration’s policy over North Korea, China, Russia and Syria continues to drift, we can only hope this shake-up brings some level of strategic vision to the body,” he said. Bannon’s removal from the NSC was a potential setback for his sphere of influence in the Trump White House, where he has a voice in most major decisions. But a Trump confidant said Bannon remained as influential as ever. “He is still involved in everything and still has the full confidence of the president but to be fair he can only do so much stuff,” the confidant said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The White House official said Bannon was no longer needed on the NSC after the departure of Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Flynn was forced to resign on Feb. 13 over his contacts with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, prior to Trump taking office on Jan. 20. The official said Bannon had been placed on the NSC originally as a check on Flynn and had only attended one of the NSC’s regular meetings. The official dismissed questions about a power struggle between Bannon and McMaster, saying they shared the same world view. However, two current national security officials rejected the White House explanation, noting that two months have passed since Flynn’s departure. McMaster, they said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, also has dueled with Bannon and others over direct access to Trump; the future of deputy national security adviser K.T. McFarland, a former Fox News commentator; intelligence director Ezra Cohen-Watnick, a Flynn appointee; and other staffing decisions. Trump is preparing for his first face-to-face meeting on Thursday and Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping with the threat of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs a key component of their talks. Bannon’s seat on the NSC’s “principals’ committee,” a group that includes the secretaries of state, defense and other ranking aides, was taken by Rick Perry, who as energy secretary is charged with overseeing the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: trump drops steve cannon national security councilwashington reuters president donald trump removed chief strategist steve cannon national security council wednesday reversing controversial decision early year give political adviser unprecedented role security discussions trump overhaul nsc confirmed white house official also elevated general joseph unfold chairman joint chiefs staff dan coats director national intelligence heads intelligence agencies the official said change moves nsc back core function supposed it also appears mark victory national security adviser master told national security experts felt battle death cannon others white house staff vice president mike pence said cannon would continue play important role policy played routine this natural evolution ensure national security council organized way best serves president resolving making difficult decisions pence said fox news cannon said statement succeeded returning nsc back traditional role coordinating foreign policy rather running he cited president barack obama national security adviser susan rice advocated change susan rice operationalized nsc last administration i put nsc ensure general master nsc back proper function said trump white house team trapped infighting intrigue cobbled young presidency in recent days several senior foreign policy national security officials said mechanisms shaping trump administration response pressing challenges syria north korea iran still place critics cannon role nsc said gave much weight someone lacked foreign policy expertise cannon chief executive trump presidential campaign months leading election november respects represents trump america first nationalistic voice helping fuel fervor pushing president part ways times mainstream republicans before joining trump administration cannon headed breitbart news website representative adam chief ranking democrat house representatives intelligence committee called shift nsc positive step help master gain control body politicized cannon as administration policy north korea china russia syria continues drift hope brings level strategic vision body said cannon removal nsc potential setback sphere influence trump white house voice major decisions but trump confidant said cannon remained influential ever he still involved everything still full confidence president fair much stuff confidant said speaking condition anonymity the white house official said cannon longer needed nsc departure trump first national security adviser michael flynn flynn forced resign contacts russia ambassador united states series kislyak prior trump taking office the official said cannon placed nsc originally check flynn attended one nsc regular meetings the official dismissed questions power struggle cannon master saying shared world view however two current national security officials rejected white house explanation noting two months passed since flynn departure master said speaking condition anonymity also fueled cannon others direct access trump future deputy national security adviser mcfarland former fox news commentator intelligence director era flynn appointee staffing decisions trump preparing first meeting thursday friday chinese president xi winning threat north korea nuclear missile programs key component talks cannon seat nsc principals committee group includes secretaries state defense ranking aides taken rick perry energy secretary charged overseeing nuclear weapons arsenal politicsnews