By Josh Nathan-Kazis January 8, 2018

Steve Bannon is losing friends fast, but one old buddy is standing by the embattled former Trump advisor: Zionist Organization of America president Mort Klein.

Klein, who hosted Bannon at his organization’s fundraising gala last year, has been a constant defender of the controversial nationalist. Now, as Bannon’s old allies fall away in the wake of his quotes savaging the president and his family in Michael Wolff’s blockbuster new book “Fire and Fury,” Klein is sticking by him.

“If there is anyone, like Bannon, who is a strong supporter of Israel and a strong fighter against anti-Semitism and that person ends up having less influence on the administration, that is something that would sadden me,” Klein told Politico. The quote appeared in an article reporting that Bannon’s apologies for the quotes were not helping, and that it was “unlikely,” in the words of one White House official, that he could heal his rift with the president.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis of the crisis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Klein’s quote was the only sympathetic quote from a Bannon ally to appear in the story.

“Steve Bannon is a tremendous friend of Israel,” Klein told Haaretz in December. “He has said he condemns neo-Nazis and has said there is no place for them. What more do you want from him?”

Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at [email protected] or on Twitter, @joshnathankazis.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount