Priebus Defends Bannon: 'He's Very Wise and Smart'

Reince Priebus, Donald Trump's new chief of staff, Monday defended the president-elect's new chief strategist, Steve Bannon, asking the public to give the former Breitbart News executive chairman a chance to prove himself.

"I like to judge people as I see it as opposed to to seeing what other people say, and I think most people that are watching know that's the way to live your life," Priebus, the current Republican National Committee chairman, told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program.

"Steve Bannon I know is a guy that is really on the same page with a lot of the things, almost everything that I agree with, as far as advising President-elect Trump."

Bannon, who remained behind the scenes while campaign manager Kellyanne Conway made public appearances, was "a force for good on the campaign," said Priebus. "He's very wise and smart."

Priebus pointed out that Bannon attended the London School of Economics, as well as Harvard Business School.

"People don't know that he was a 10-year Naval officer at very high levels, advising admirals in the Navy," Priebus said.

However, Bannon's appointment has met with opposition from several sources, including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and the Anti-Defamation League, reports ABC News, where Priebus also appeared for an interview on Monday.

"President-elect Trump's choice of Steve Bannon as his top aide signals that white supremacists will be represented at the highest levels in Trump's White House," Reid's spokesman Adam Jentleson said in a statement issued Sunday.

In addition, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said his organization opposes Bannon's appointment because the alt-right movement, which he champions, is "so hostile to core American values."

"It is a sad day when a man who presided over the premier website of the 'alt-right' — a loose-knit group of white nationalists and unabashed anti-Semites and racists — is slated to be a senior staff member in the 'people's house,'" Greenblatt said in his statement.

Priebus, also appearing on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program, said such complaints do not reflect the Bannon he knows, and said the former Breitbart executive is committed to furthering Trump's presidency.

"I can assure you and it's important, and I know President-elect Trump wants all to understand this, all Americans out there, no matter race, gender, ethnic background, he wants to make you proud of your country and serve you," said Priebus.

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