Steve Bannon made an intriguing appearance on ABC’s “This Week” with Jon Karl, where he delved into crucial topics surrounding President Trump and the growing MAGA movement. Bannon, a stalwart supporter of Trump, highlighted how the former president forged a formidable coalition, which he believes will continue to work towards unifying the nation. Despite being perceived as combative, Bannon emphasized, “Look at the coalition we put together, what happened on 5 November, right? Look, I realize I’m, you know, always on the attack, but he’s President of the United States. He won his victory, he has a big coalition to pull together, and I think he’s gonna try to unify the country.” This vision of unity is often mischaracterized by liberal media who tend to focus on division.
When confronted by Karl about the talks of “retribution,” Bannon responded with clarity, stating that Trump’s goal is not vengeance but rather “peace and prosperity,” which he equated to “security in a new golden age.” Bannon elaborated, saying, “His idea of retribution is peace and prosperity. It’s security in a new golden age.” This response challenges the left-leaning narratives that paint Trump as vindictive, suggesting instead that his actions are about securing the country’s future.
Addressing rumors of prosecutorial acts against political adversaries, Bannon clarified, “I didn’t say that. I think that is different. I don’t think that is revenge or retribution at all. And I’m a big believer and I’ve said this over and over again. I say it on the show every day. We have obligations to this Republic that this could never happen again.” Bannon’s words highlight a commitment to justice and accountability, something that is often undervalued in liberal circles.
The conversation turned to notable billionaires such as Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos. Bannon’s perspective was bold: “They are there as supplicants, they are not there as the oligarchs.” These remarks underscore a significant shift in power dynamics, with Bannon asserting, “Most people in our movement look at this as President Trump broke the oligarchs. He broke’em, and they surrendered.” His comparison of Trump to Douglas MacArthur, stating, “He is like Douglas MacArthur. That is an official surrender, ok, and I think it’s powerful,” suggests a pivotal change in how power is perceived and exercised in America.
Former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said in an exclusive interview with @JonKarl that tech billionaires' planned attendance at Monday's inauguration is a sign of their "official surrender" to President-elect Donald Trump.
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— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 19, 2025
Challenging the tech giants, Bannon specifically called out Mark Zuckerberg, labeling him as “a criminal.” Skeptical of Zuckerberg’s intentions, Bannon warned, “Absolutely not. I think Mark Zuckerberg is a criminal,” adding, “That guy will flip on President Trump, and he will flip on us in a second. When it’s convenient for him, he will flip.” This criticism resonates with Trump’s base, who often view Big Tech with suspicion for its perceived biases.