Bannon allegedly pushed Trump to sideline General McMaster and replace U.S. troops in Afghanistan with private contractors linked to Erik Prince

Bannon allegedly pushed Trump to sideline General McMaster and replace U.S. troops in Afghanistan with private contractors linked to Erik Prince The passage outlines a possible coordination between Steve Bannon, the Trump administration, and Erik Prince to influence Afghanistan policy by removing a key military adviser (McMaster) and promoting private‑contractor solutions. It names high‑profile officials and suggests a strategic maneuver that could have policy and legal implications, offering concrete names and a timeline (July‑August 2020). While unverified, it provides actionable leads for document review and interview targets. Key insights: Bannon reportedly wanted to eliminate General Mark McMaster to block a troop surge in Afghanistan.; Trump had authorized resources but Defense Secretary Mattis awaited presidential direction.; Bannon allegedly framed McMaster as a ‘globalist’ and ‘soft on Israel’ in a media campaign.