President-elect Donald Trump named Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus as his chief of staff, his transition team announced Sunday – while also elevating Steven Bannon, who helped chart Trump's rise to victory with relentless attacks on his opponents to a prominent role as 'chief strategist.'

The duel appointments signaled the real estate mogul's desire to reassure the Republican Party as he gets closer to governing, while not walking away from members of an angry, anti-establishment voters who helped him take over.

The news of the appointment of Priebus, one of the most important moves of Trump's new transition, signals a more traditional approach to governing – though it might not be what some of Trump's millions of fed up supporters were expecting when the candidate promised to 'drain the swamp' in Washington by taking on entrenched forces.

'I am thrilled to have my very successful team continue with me in leading our country,' Trump said in a statement.

Safe choice: Reince Priebus will be named Donald Trump's White House Chief of Staff according to sources close to the President-elect

'Steve and Reince are highly qualified leaders who worked well together on our campaign and led us to a historic victory. Now I will have them both with me in the White House as we work to make America great again.'

'Reince is a superstar,' Trump said during his election night victory speech.

The official release mentioned Bannon's appointment first, followed by that of Priebus.

Political kremlinologists were left to guess whether Bannon's appointment meant Trump was unwilling to relinquish some of the brass tacks tactics that got him elected.

Neither man has served in government previously. Priebus has held a variety of party posts in Wisconsin and in at the RNC.

Trump campaign CEO Steve Bannon, the former boss of Breitbart, was in Trump Tower when he was named vice-president of the transition team. He will serve as a senior advisor and counselor to Trump

Trump's transition team made the news in a release that mentioned Bannon's role first, and future White House chief of staff Reince Priebus second

Donald Trump's pick to be White House chief strategist and counselor Steve Bannon, who served as Trump's campaign CEO, attends a campaign rally at the W.L. Zorn Arena November 1, 2016 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Although the release didn't describe the counselor role, it is one that has been filled in the past by George W. Bush political guru Karl Rove, and by President Barack Obama's political mind David Axelrod.

It was still to be determined what if any blowback Trump might encounter from more mainstream conservatives for the elevation of Bannon, who helped design his stunning electoral victory, but made his mark at a political website that has been criticized as home to anti-immigrant and anti-semitic 'alt-right' sentiment.

According to the southern poverty law center: 'T he outlet has undergone a noticeable shift toward embracing ideas on the extremist fringe of the conservative right. Racist ideas. Anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant ideas – all key tenets making up an emerging racist ideology known as the 'alt-right.''

'The racist, fascist extreme right is represented footsteps from the Oval Office. Be very vigilant America,' tweeted GOP strategist John Weaver, a leading advisor for Ohio Governor John Kasich, who lost to Trump in the primaries.

Priebus, who helped negotiate the 'pledge' about supporting the ultimate winner during the contentious GOP primary and who stood by Trump even as other powerful members of the establishment kept their distance, emerged as a leading choice immediately after the election.

Another leading candidate thought to be under consideration for the chief of staff post was Bannon, the campaign CEO, former Goldman Sachs banker and chief of Breitbart News.

The selection of Priebus suggests a more conventional approach to governing. With Republicans controlling both the House and Senate, the GOP has an opportunity to ram through an agenda.

GOP strategist John Weaver blasted Trump's elevation of Steven Bannon as 'co-eqaul' to the chief of staff

Trump hailed Priebus during his election night speech

Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, takes over one of the most challenging jobs in government

Back in 2008, Breitbart News Daily host Stephen Bannon live on air at SiriusXM Broadcasts' New Hampshire Primary Coverage

In an unorthodox move, the official release named Bannon first.

'President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced that Trump for President CEO Stephen K. Bannon will serve as Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor to the President, and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus will serve as White House Chief of Staff,' his office said.

Bannon helped forge Trump's stunning victory from the inside, and was behind to some of Trump's brash campaign moves, like bringing Bill and Hillary Clinton accusers to a presidential debate and heading to the U.S.-Mexico border.

After Paul Ryan was elected House Speaker, Bannon was quoted in a leaked email obtained by The Hill as saying 'long game is him gone by spring.'

Also spotted at Trump Tower Sunday was RNC official Sean Spicer, in another indication of the Priebus pick. Trump is ' taking the counsel of many people. I think he can't go wrong with the decision,' said his campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, who herself has been mentioned for a number of prominent roles, speaking to reporters at Trump Tower on Sunday before Trump's transition made the announcement.

Throughout the campaign, Trump and the Party had complicated relationship. Past presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush didn't endorse him and didn't attend the Republican convention.

Prior presidential nominees Mitt Romney and John McCain also kept their distance, while multiple sitting senators and leading elected officials denounced one part of Trump's agenda or another.

A waive of lawmakers condemned his comments on the infamous 'p****' tape, though some ended up coming back his direction.

Through the tense times, Priebus tried to navigate through it all, mindful that if Trump underperformed it could doom Republicans down ballot.

The role of chief of staff is always critical, and even more so in administration that shunned planning for the transition by design, and with a candidate who has no government experience who has taken conflicting positions on an array of issues.

Trump is already experiencing the challenges of trying communicate his priorities now that he faces the challenge of actually assuming office. He told the Wall Street Journal Friday he would 'amend' Obamacare, but has also called for repealing and replacing it.

House Republicans have their own plan to replace Obamacare, while Speaker Ryan has put forward a plan to force massive entitlement changes, something Trump has said he wouldn't do. Part of the chief of staff's role is selecting priorities, negotiating with Congress, and mapping out a strategy that can work.

'It is truly an honor to join President-elect Trump in the White House as his Chief of Staff,' said Priebus in a statement released by the Trump presidential transition team.

'I am very grateful to the President-elect for this opportunity to serve him and this nation as we work to create an economy that works for everyone, secure our borders, repeal and replace Obamacare and destroy radical Islamic terrorism,' he said, using a favorite phrase of Trump's.

Said Bannon: 'I want to thank President-elect Trump for the opportunity to work with Reince in driving the agenda of the Trump Administration. We had a very successful partnership on the campaign, one that led to victory. We will have that same partnership in working to help President-elect Trump achieve his agenda.'

Trump held meetings and took calls Sunday as he has for several days – including one from primary rival Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who he labeled 'low energy,' and Carly Fiorina, who he got caught ridiculing for her appearance 'that face' in a Rolling Stone interview.

'He's very busy up there meeting with different people and receiving many different phone calls. He's taken calls in the last couple of days from Carly Fiorina, John Kasich, from governor Jeb Bush,' Conway told reporters.

Of the Bush call, she said, 'They had a very productive call and governor Bush was extremely gracious congratulating Mr. Trump on his victory and wishing him well as our next president.'

Trump also has connected with Ohio's Republican Governor John Kasich, who didn't vote for Trump or have his organization work for him – although Trump won Ohio anyway.

Bannon has been a source of speculation since his name was floated for the job in the New York Times on Friday.