Today Steve Bannon is one of the gurus of the Maga galaxy (from the Trumpian slogan “Make America Great Again”). The supremacy ideologue and, for a brief period, White House counsel to Donald Trump during his first term, was recently released from prison, where he was held for contempt of court, after serving a subpoena conference in the investigation on January 6, Capitol Attack 2021. And now, in an interview with Corriere della Sera, he warns Europe and Giorgia Meloni about the coming change, because the Maga movement is «resolute: we want to cut 100% of the funds for Ukraine».
If this were the case, it would be a heavy blow for the European front that supports Kiev and above all for those, within this front, who exposed themselves the most, such as Poland, France, Italy, and in the past year as well. Germany. We must hope to close a good agreement for peace, but Trump’s haste is not good news for Meloni. Bannon says he is sure: «Trump will say he wants peace in Ukraine. It is clear that he wants to end this semi-obsession of pushing NATO almost into Russian territory”, although Meloni is “quite clear that he had a bet that Trump would not come back, you can see from his policies. The bet was wrong, it didn’t pay off.” That’s not all. In Europe many are worried about a possible new tariff policy and Bannon declares: « They should be. We will not pay for your protection while we let you get hit with lopsided trade deals. Yes, tariffs are coming, you’ll have to pay to access the US market. It’s no longer free, the market is over Europe has abused us.”
Bannon was not with Meloni. He calls her, not surprisingly, “Nikki Haley”, which is not exactly a compliment. Haley, once an iron supporter of Trump, went a long way herself when she challenged the tycoon in the Republican primaries. And despite her (timid) support in Trump’s race against Kamala Harris, the US president has decided to exclude her from the government team in the future. “Chewed up and spat out”, are the headlines in the American newspapers these days. Bannon therefore sees Meloni as someone who has gone too far, almost a traitor. One that can aspire to be a bridge for Trump in Europe only “if he stays true to his fundamental beliefs”. In short, if he goes back to what he said to say “when FdI was at 3%”.
It must be said that today Bannon has a strong influence on the most radical Maga, the pure populists, where conspiracy theories and fake news often mix, but for some time he is no longer a point of reference for Trump and his inner circle. He maintains some contacts with the inner circle of the US president, but the Maga movement, as Bannon himself recognizes, is “further south than Trump”. And the ideologue, through his interventions on social media and the podcast War Room, interprets and guides the hard core of Trump’s radicalism. The Maga, said Bannon, “there is no need for a bridge, because Le Pen, Farage and Orbán are with us”. So, they are the Patriots of Europe on the right, also played by Matteo Salvini. Meloni, to the radical Trumpians, seems so moderate that he is almost an enemy. The question remains: how much will the hard and pure Maga be able to influence Trump’s choices?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Political Expert on Steve Bannon’s Recent Statements
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re diving deep into the recent comments made by Steve Bannon, a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, following his release from prison. We’re fortunate to have with us Dr. Emily Carter, a political analyst specializing in U.S. politics and international relations. Emily, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me. I’m excited to discuss these important developments.
Editor: Let’s start with Bannon’s warning to Europe, particularly to Giorgia Meloni, about proposed cuts to funding for Ukraine. What are the implications of this for European countries that have supported Ukraine, especially those that have been more vocally in favor, like Poland, Italy, and Germany?
Dr. Carter: Bannon’s comments are quite significant. If the MAGA movement indeed pushes for a total withdrawal of funding for Ukraine, it would severely impact European nations that have taken risks to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. Countries like Poland, France, and Germany have not only provided military assistance but also put their own political capital on the line. A cut in U.S. funding could create a domino effect, leading to weakened support within Europe and emboldening Russia.
Editor: And what about Giorgia Meloni’s position? Bannon suggested that Meloni miscalculated Trump’s political trajectory. How do you interpret that?
Dr. Carter: Bannon’s characterization of Meloni’s bet on Trump not returning to power signals a rift within the transatlantic alliance. She might have aligned her policies with the expectation of a different U.S. administration. This miscalculation—especially if Trump reemerges stronger—could isolate her and force her to recalibrate Italy’s foreign policy in alignment with a more nationalist U.S. approach.
Editor: Bannon also mentioned potential tariffs on European goods, which he claims stem from lopsided trade deals. How significant could this be for European economies?
Dr. Carter: This could be highly significant. If tariffs are enacted, it raises the cost of doing business for European countries in the U.S. market, and might lead to retaliatory measures. Trade wars can severely disrupt economies, particularly for nations reliant on exporting goods to the U.S. Additionally, this echoes a broader trend we’ve seen where economic nationalism and protectionist policies are on the rise, which could reshape existing trade relationships.
Editor: Fascinating. It sounds like there’s a lot of uncertainty ahead for European leaders. Given Bannon’s disparaging remarks about Meloni, calling her ”Nikki Haley,” what does this say about intra-party dynamics within the GOP and its international allies?
Dr. Carter: It illustrates a significant divide. By invoking Nikki Haley, Bannon is not just dismissing Meloni but also underscoring the idea that European leaders must toe the line with MAGA ideology to be considered legitimate allies. It reflects internal GOP power struggles and sets a tone showing that allegiance to figures like Trump is paramount. Allies that aren’t in lockstep may find themselves marginalized.
Editor: Lastly, how should European leaders respond to these developments? What strategies might help them withstand the pressure from a potential Trump-led MAGA agenda?
Dr. Carter: European leaders need to engage in proactive diplomacy while also strengthening their own defense and economic capabilities, potentially looking to diversify trade partnerships beyond the U.S. A unified European front that articulates its own strategic interests, especially concerning Ukraine, is crucial. They might also explore avenues for deeper cooperation among themselves to counter any unilateral decisions from Washington.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Carter, for these insightful analyses. Bannon’s return to the political forefront certainly raises important questions about the future of U.S.-European relations. We’ll continue to follow this story closely.
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial to stay informed as these dynamics continue to evolve.