President Donald Trump is saying "we'll see what happens" with top strategist Steve Bannon.
The president refused to express confidence in Bannon during an impromptu news conference on Tuesday.
Bannon, the former leader of conservative Breitbart News website, has been a contentious figure in a divided White House for months.
He was a key general election campaign adviser and has been a forceful presence at the White House.
But the former leader of conservative Breitbart News has drawn fire from some of Trump's closest advisers, including son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Trump's less-than-enthusiastic defense calls into question Bannon's assessment of his situation. He had been telling people that he believed his job was safe, following a conversation in recent days with new chief of staff John Kelly.
That's according to a White House official who demanded anonymity to discuss personnel matters.
The anti-Bannon campaign comes as Trump is facing heated criticism for not immediately condemning by name white supremacists and other hate groups after deadly violence last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The decision whether to oust Bannon is more than just personnel matter.
The media guru is viewed in some circles as Trump's connection to his base and the protector of Trump's disruptive, conservative agenda.
But Bannon's high profile and puppet-master image have at times irked a president who doesn't like to share the spotlight and bristles at the suggestion that he needs a liaison to his base.
In April, Trump diminished Bannon's role to that of "a guy who works for me".
However on Tuesday the president said Bannon is a "good man" and not a racist.
