Priebus tapped as White House chief of staff

WASHINGTON (AP) – President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus as his White House chief of staff and conservative media executive Stephen Bannon as his senior counselor.

Trump’s transition team announced the decisions Sunday. The moves are Trump’s first as he sets about putting together his administration.

In selecting Priebus, Trump is turning to a Washington veteran with deep ties to Republican leadership, particularly House Speaker Paul Ryan. Bannon ran the conservative website Breitbart before joining Trump’s presidential campaign during the general election. Neither has significant governing experience.

In a statement, Trump says Priebus and Bannon are “highly qualified leaders who worked well together on our campaign.”