Bannon Won't Dismiss Potential 2028 Presidential Bid
Activists at CPAC suggested Bannon as a potential candidate.
TroibNews 
Steve Bannon isn’t ruling out the possibility of a presidential run in 2028.
During a lively interview with PMG on Wednesday, the MAGA figurehead refused to dismiss the notion of a candidacy, igniting speculation among GOP insiders that he might be serious about running if President Donald Trump decides against campaigning for a third term—an idea Bannon himself has suggested, despite its constitutional limitations.
“I don’t think like a politician,” Bannon stated. “All I do is back President Trump and try to move the populist national agenda and the America First agenda.”
When pressed on why he wouldn’t simply declare that he wouldn’t run in 2028 if Trump did not, Bannon dismissed the question as “too absurd.”
The interview follows a resurgence in Bannon's popularity and influence within right-wing circles, coinciding with the rise of the MAGA movement. Recently, his supporters floated his name in a straw poll at a prominent conservative gathering, and he even appeared on California Gov. Gavin Newsom's new podcast—a potential rival in the Democratic presidential race.
A person close to Bannon, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that he has privately considered a 2028 campaign, saying, “I think he’s serious.” Additionally, it’s been noted by multiple sources that Bannon has long harbored presidential aspirations.
After leaving Trump's White House, Bannon claimed he would never return as “a staffer,” and emphasized that he would only go back if he were to take on the presidency, according to a Republican consultant who was part of Trump’s 2016 campaign. The consultant also pointed out that Bannon hinted at the possibility of teaming up with businessman Mark Cuban, interpreting his comments as indicative of genuine ambition: “I’m good enough to do this.”
Bannon has carved out a dual identity as both a provocative figure and a disruptor, often taking action that doesn't align with his bold claims.
Should Bannon pursue a presidential run in 2028—after serving four months in prison for contempt of Congress—it would surface existing tensions within the MAGA landscape. Last November, Vice President JD Vance, who is positioning himself as the heir to the movement, called Bannon's chief aide “a mouth breathing imbecile” on X after she criticized his absence from a crucial Senate vote, though he later deleted the post.
Bannon's statements emerge amidst speculation about his role as a guardian of the MAGA ideology, especially against a burgeoning tech-right.
At a major conservative gathering in February, attendees rallied for him in a straw poll, which functions as a critical indicator among right-wing voters. Bannon, garnering celebrity treatment at the Conservative Political Action Conference, could have easily quashed this enthusiasm but instead allowed it to thrive, landing a strong second behind Vance and surpassing notable figures like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump Jr.
Jack Posobiec, a prominent MAGA activist, commented, “As we learned from the 2024 lawfare, if Bannon was elected, he certainly wouldn't be the first convict to become president. In any other time frame, it would surprise me, but I don’t think there are any surprises anymore.”
According to another close associate, Bannon is currently fixated on the perceived threat to MAGA posed by tech mogul Elon Musk, whom he has called a “parasitic illegal immigrant.” This person noted, “That’s what he does all day long: He's 100 percent focused on purging Elon Musk from MAGA.”
Despite the ongoing discussions, Bannon refrained from detailing his future plans beyond Trump’s potential second term. “My guy in 2028 is Donald J. Trump — a guy like this comes around once in a century, okay, and we got to get everything out of President Trump we can get. I’m on [air] four hours a day," he said. "I say it four hours a day, and then eight to 10 hours behind the scenes. This is another kick up the dust, kick up the controversy — because I’m in a huge fight with Elon.”
He further remarked, “I have one podcast with Gavin Newsom and you're running around with your hair on fire.” About Newsom, he added, “he agrees with me on everything.”
Bannon reiterated that he does not see himself as a “politician,” referencing his sole experience in public office from his youth as student body president 60 years ago.
“I went to fucking prison to back this president, and to back this movement in a low-security fucking prison,” Bannon emphasized. “Here are the things I care about: I care about my country and this movement, and I care about President Trump.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
During a lively interview with PMG on Wednesday, the MAGA figurehead refused to dismiss the notion of a candidacy, igniting speculation among GOP insiders that he might be serious about running if President Donald Trump decides against campaigning for a third term—an idea Bannon himself has suggested, despite its constitutional limitations.
“I don’t think like a politician,” Bannon stated. “All I do is back President Trump and try to move the populist national agenda and the America First agenda.”
When pressed on why he wouldn’t simply declare that he wouldn’t run in 2028 if Trump did not, Bannon dismissed the question as “too absurd.”
The interview follows a resurgence in Bannon's popularity and influence within right-wing circles, coinciding with the rise of the MAGA movement. Recently, his supporters floated his name in a straw poll at a prominent conservative gathering, and he even appeared on California Gov. Gavin Newsom's new podcast—a potential rival in the Democratic presidential race.
A person close to Bannon, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that he has privately considered a 2028 campaign, saying, “I think he’s serious.” Additionally, it’s been noted by multiple sources that Bannon has long harbored presidential aspirations.
After leaving Trump's White House, Bannon claimed he would never return as “a staffer,” and emphasized that he would only go back if he were to take on the presidency, according to a Republican consultant who was part of Trump’s 2016 campaign. The consultant also pointed out that Bannon hinted at the possibility of teaming up with businessman Mark Cuban, interpreting his comments as indicative of genuine ambition: “I’m good enough to do this.”
Bannon has carved out a dual identity as both a provocative figure and a disruptor, often taking action that doesn't align with his bold claims.
Should Bannon pursue a presidential run in 2028—after serving four months in prison for contempt of Congress—it would surface existing tensions within the MAGA landscape. Last November, Vice President JD Vance, who is positioning himself as the heir to the movement, called Bannon's chief aide “a mouth breathing imbecile” on X after she criticized his absence from a crucial Senate vote, though he later deleted the post.
Bannon's statements emerge amidst speculation about his role as a guardian of the MAGA ideology, especially against a burgeoning tech-right.
At a major conservative gathering in February, attendees rallied for him in a straw poll, which functions as a critical indicator among right-wing voters. Bannon, garnering celebrity treatment at the Conservative Political Action Conference, could have easily quashed this enthusiasm but instead allowed it to thrive, landing a strong second behind Vance and surpassing notable figures like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump Jr.
Jack Posobiec, a prominent MAGA activist, commented, “As we learned from the 2024 lawfare, if Bannon was elected, he certainly wouldn't be the first convict to become president. In any other time frame, it would surprise me, but I don’t think there are any surprises anymore.”
According to another close associate, Bannon is currently fixated on the perceived threat to MAGA posed by tech mogul Elon Musk, whom he has called a “parasitic illegal immigrant.” This person noted, “That’s what he does all day long: He's 100 percent focused on purging Elon Musk from MAGA.”
Despite the ongoing discussions, Bannon refrained from detailing his future plans beyond Trump’s potential second term. “My guy in 2028 is Donald J. Trump — a guy like this comes around once in a century, okay, and we got to get everything out of President Trump we can get. I’m on [air] four hours a day," he said. "I say it four hours a day, and then eight to 10 hours behind the scenes. This is another kick up the dust, kick up the controversy — because I’m in a huge fight with Elon.”
He further remarked, “I have one podcast with Gavin Newsom and you're running around with your hair on fire.” About Newsom, he added, “he agrees with me on everything.”
Bannon reiterated that he does not see himself as a “politician,” referencing his sole experience in public office from his youth as student body president 60 years ago.
“I went to fucking prison to back this president, and to back this movement in a low-security fucking prison,” Bannon emphasized. “Here are the things I care about: I care about my country and this movement, and I care about President Trump.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
