Distractions from staff, ex-aides roil White House

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - While President Donald Trump is dealing with global turmoil, he also has a fair share in his administration. Reports have surfaced about the business ties of former campaign aides as well as friction among high level advisers, including Steve Bannon and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Former campaign chair Paul Manafort is revealed to have ties to foreign players. Manafort is registering as a foreign agent after an Associated Press report showed that he received undisclosed payments from a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine. As part of his work for that party, he directed some lobbying that went on in Washington, the AP reported.

A spokesman for Manafort said the lobbying work was not conducted on behalf of the Russian government and began before he became one of the Trump's closest advisers. Manafort said the AP report is "misleading" and "incorrect."

Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page is punching back against allegations that he was the subject of a secret U.S. government court order last summer as part of the FBI's Russia probe. Page said a "tremendous amount of false evidence" is out there.

The anti-globalist views of chief strategist Steve Bannon are at the heart of many White House policies. But after recent reports of feuding with Kushner, the president appears to be leaning toward family. Trump told the New York Post: "I like Steve, but you have to remember, he was not involved in my campaign until very late. Steve is a good guy, but I told them to straighten it out or I will."

During a panel at the Newseum in Washington, Press Secretary Sean Spicer acknowledged his insensitive remarks regarding the Holocaust, Hitler, Assad, and chemical weapons. He is facing major backlash after comparing the use of chemical weapons in Syria to Hitler's actions. He apologized and said he let the president down, but said he has no intention of stepping down.