Washington (CNN) Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon had "very little" to do with President Donald Trump's White House victory, Trump told The Wall Street Journal.

A transcript of the full interview with the President published Thursday contained harsh words from Trump for his former confidant.

"Steve was -- I always liked Steve, but Steve became very ineffective because he was such a lightning rod," Trump said, according the The Journal. "And Steve, in the end I fired Steve."

On Tuesday, Bannon stepped down from his position at the far-right website Breitbart News Network. The news of his resignation followed remarks he had made in the recently published book on the Trump White House, "Fire and Fury," in which he was quoted calling the infamous Trump Tower meeting with Donald Trump Jr. possibly "treasonous."

Trump and Bannon publicly clashed following the book's release. However, when asked if the demise of their relationship is permanent, the President wouldn't say.

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