Steve Bannon in May 2019, Wikimedia Commons
The Daily Beast reports MAGA influencer Steve Bannon “has an ulterior motive for banging the ‘Trump 2028’ drum.
“Close associates of Bannon, 72, told Axios that the former White House adviser keeps mentioning a third term [for President Donald] Trump — which is unconstitutional — because he wants to run for president himself,” the Beast reports.
“When Trump doesn’t end up running, [Bannon] will reluctantly say he must carry the mantle,” a source told Axios.
Bannon denied any speculated run for president outside of Trump’s shadow, calling the idea "bulls——.” He claims he's instead focused on supporting Trump's illegal third term.
"We don't have a country if we don't get every ounce of fight and energy from President Trump — you can drive a Mack Truck through the 22nd Amendment — and that's exactly what I intend to do in order to save our country," Bannon told Axios.
But while Bannon is overtly denying his personal ambition, Axios reports he has quietly “taken several steps to prepare a possible campaign, according to two anonymous sources. Namely, Bannon has expressed interest in setting up a PAC that could spend money in midterm races and has talked with allies to see who might work for him.
Axios reports Bannon has also appeared at recent events hosted by the Colorado and Georgia Republican parties, which Axios claims is proof that he's working to “curry favor with local organizers who play a role in primaries.”
Bannon purports to be pressing three Trump lieutenants to run for president in Trump’s absence in three years: Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz. (R-Texas)
None of Bannon’s three champions confirmed their political plans for 2028.
Read the Daily Beast report at this link.