It was an operatic unraveling. So mortifying was this development that when Reince Priebus, the RNC head, was called to New York from Washington for an emergency meeting at Trump Tower, he couldn't bring himself to leave Penn Station. It took two hours for the Trump team to coax him across town. Bro, said a desperate Bannon, cajoling Priebus on the phone, I may never see you again after today, but you gotta come to this building and you gotta walk through the front door.
The scene described highlights a chaotic moment in the Trump administration, characterized by its dramatic and almost theatrical nature. Reince Priebus, head of the RNC, faced such intense embarrassment from the unfolding situation that he hesitated to make the trip to Trump Tower. His reluctance reflects the high stakes and pressures surrounding him, revealing the turmoil within the team. The urgent call from Steve Bannon underscores the gravity of the situation as he desperately attempts to persuade Priebus to join them.
This incident illustrates the tension and instability that defined the early days of the Trump administration. The struggle to convince Priebus to leave Penn Station symbolizes the larger issues of loyalty and anxiety within the team. Bannon's emotional plea not only captures the urgency of the moment but also hints at the fraught relationships and potential rifts among Trump’s inner circle, setting the stage for further controversies to come.