US President Donald Trump's chief strategist and controversial adviser Stephen Bannon is leaving the White House and the Internet is celebrating ecstatically. Bannon's ouster came after months of controversy and scrutiny surrounding the embattled White House amid a slew of staff changes.

"White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Steve Bannon have mutually agreed today would be Steve's last day," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement on Friday (18 August). "We are grateful for his service and wish him the best,"

The 63-year-old former leader of far-right Breitbart News, who helped Trump win the 2016 election by championing nationalist policies, had a contentious tenure in the West Wing and clashed with numerous aides in the West Wing including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, daughter Ivanka Trump, national security adviser H.R. McMaster and economic adviser Gary Cohn.

Bannon's influence on Trump has also drawn fierce criticism in recent months and was captured in a Time magazine cover under the headline "The Great Manipulator."

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Within hours of his exit, he returned to chair an editorial meeting at Breitbart News.

Meanwhile, social media erupted with gleeful celebration as news of his ouster broke with many saying "it's about time." While many welcomed the surprise announcement, some argued that as a "vile purveyor of white nationalist propaganda", he should have never been in the White House in the first place.

Others questioned whether his removal would actually significantly change the policies of the Trump administration.

"Personnel changes are fascinating and dramatic but let's just remember how little of a difference it makes with this President", Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii tweeted.

Most Twitter users responded with a slew of hilarious memes, jokes and comments.

"Congrats on removing your first monument to racism!", Stephen Colbert tweeted to Trump.

One person joked: "Source close to Bannon says there were underlying tensions with Trump, but final straw was using permanent marker on white board."

"James Comey, Sean Spicer, Anthony Scaramucci, and now Steve Bannon -- how many White House exit contestants can Dancing with the Stars have?" another mused.

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Twitter had a field day in response to Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon's exit from the White House. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
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