Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist called the 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Trump campaign officials and a group of Russians was “treasonous” and “unpatriotic.”

The author of the new book,“Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," quoted Bannon's statement regarding the issue, according to the Guardian.

Michael Wolff, the author of the book conducted hundreds of interviews with President Donald Trump and his inner circles including Bannon. His book is one of the most awaited political books of the year.

According to the Guardian, Bannon criticized the meeting involving Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort, and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. Previous reports indicated that Russian operatives arranged the meeting. Trump Jr. allegedly agreed to meet Veselnitskaya after receiving an e-mail offering him “sensitive information" that will damage Hillary Clinton.

Wolff quoted Bannon saying, “The three senior guys in the campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign government inside Trump Tower in the conference room on the 25th floor – with no lawyers. They didn’t have any lawyers.”

“Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it’s all of that." The former White House strategist also stated, "You should have called the FBI immediately."

Additionally, the former White House strategist told the author, “They’re going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV.” He was referring to the investigation into the alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Pres. Trump says Bannon “lost his mind”

In response to the criticisms of Bannon in the new book, President Donald Trump said Bannon “lost his mind.”

In a statement, the President said, Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my Presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.”

Additionally, Pres. Trump said, “Steve is learning that winning isn't as easy as I make it look.”

Furthermore, the President emphasized that his former White House strategist “had very little to do with his victory.” According to him, he won because of the support of the “forgotten men and women of this country.”

On the other hand, Donald Trump Jr. called Bannon an “opportunist” and “not a strategist.”

The President’s son tweeted,” Steve had the honor of working in the White House & serving the country. Unfortunately, he squandered that privilege & turned that opportunity into a nightmare of backstabbing, harassing, leaking, lying & undermining the President. Steve is not a strategist, he is an opportunist.”