The White House on Monday remained firm in its rejection of Stephen Bannon's apology for attacking President Trump
Donald John TrumpCorker: US must determine responsibility in Saudi journalist's death Five takeaways from testy Heller-Rosen debate in Nevada Dem senator calls for US action after 'preposterous' Saudi explanation MORE's children in a new book, saying that first daughter Ivanka Trump
Ivana (Ivanka) Marie TrumpAttacks on public figures are growing The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump sends Pompeo to meet Saudi king | How Trump could work with a Dem House | Trump heads to Florida to view hurricane damage Watchdog files Hatch Act complaint against Sanders for picture with Kanye in MAGA hat MORE and her husband, Jared Kushner
Jared Corey KushnerSaudis say journalist killed in ‘fight’ at consulate; 18 detained White House responds to Joaquin Castro's Kushner allegations: 'an outrageous slanderous lie' Attacks on public figures are growing MORE, are "sacrificing" to serve the American people.
"When you go after somebody's family in the manner in which he did — two of the president's children who are serving this nation, sacrificing in their service — it is repugnant, it is grotesque," Trump spokesman Hogan Gidley told reporters aboard Air Force One.
"They both gave up personal and private lives to come work at the White House and work for the American people. They do that every day. And it's ridiculous for anyone to try and attack what they do for this nation," he added.
Gidley's remarks come after the former chief strategist was quoted in Michael Wolff's new book, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,
Neither Kushner nor Ivanka Trump takes a salary for their work as White House advisers.
Bannon is also quoted in the book as saying Donald Trump Jr.
Donald (Don) John TrumpElection Countdown: Small-donor donations explode | Russian woman charged with midterm interference | Takeaways from North Dakota Senate debate | O'Rourke gives 'definitive no' to 2020 run | Dems hope Latino voters turn Arizona blue Election Countdown: Florida Senate fight resumes after hurricane | Cruz softens ObamaCare attacks | GOP worries Trump will lose suburban women | Latest Senate polls | Rep. Dave Brat gets Trump's 'total endorsement' | Dem candidates raise record B Eric Trump: Trump Org has 'zero investments' in Russia or Saudi Arabia MORE's controversial June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower was “treasonous” and “unpatriotic” — an attack he later walked back.
Bannon's shots at the president's family ignited the fury of Trump, who sought to distance himself from the former White House aide and painted him as a deranged and bitter former staffer.
Trump took to Twitter to slam the book, while calling Bannon "Sloppy Steve."
Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book. He used Sloppy Steve Bannon
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018Stephen (Steve) Kevin BannonBannon: Timing of Nikki Haley's departure 'horrific' Oversight Dems call for probe into citizenship question on 2020 census House Intelligence Committee to vote Friday on releasing dozens of Russia probe transcripts MORE, who cried when he got fired and begged for his job. Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone. Too bad! https://t.co/mEeUhk5ZV9
Days after the Breitbart News chief executive faced a heavy fallout from allies and donors alike for his comments, Bannon came forward with a statement of "regret."
"Donald Trump, Jr. is both a patriot and a good man. He has been relentless in his advocacy for his father and the agenda that has helped turn our country around," Bannon said in a statement to Axios, emphasizing that he meant the comments to be about former campaign chairman Paul Manafort
Paul John ManafortManafort to be sentenced in Virginia in February Former FBI agent sentenced to 4 years in jail for leaking to reporter The Hill's 12:30 Report — Mnuchin won't attend Saudi conference | Pompeo advises giving Saudis 'few more days' to investigate | Trump threatens military action over caravan MORE.
"I regret that my delay in responding to the inaccurate reporting regarding Don Jr. has diverted attention from the president's historical accomplishments in the first year of his presidency," he added, without walking back his remarks about Ivanka Trump and Kushner.
Gidley suggested Bannon crossed a red line going after the president's family.
"I challenge anybody to go and talk about someone else's family and see if that person doesn't come back, and come back hard," Gidley added.
