Fallout for Steve Bannon Only Beginning

Fallout for Steve Bannon Only Beginning

Steve Bannon denounced Donald Trump, particularly a meeting between Trump Jr and some Russian attorney.

That was an interesting topic on which to build a battle plan, as Bannon called the meeting “treasonous” and “unpatriotic”. Interesting choice of words.

President Trump pummeled Bannon immediately. And it doesn’t get any more scathing than this. Trump told Bannon in no uncertain terms to butt out of his affairs.

“He’s only in it for himself,” Trump said in an official statement, adding that Bannon has “lost his mind.”

Next, Donald Trump Jr weighed in, showing that he’s as willing as his father to fight publicly.

Bannon did squander his privilege. He chose instead to appear more powerful than the emperor. And what I know of Bannon, Trump Jr. nailed it.

As for strategy, Bannon’s problems haven’t ended with his recent mea culpa.

As The Daily Caller writes:

The Mercer family came out against Breitbart chairman Steven Bannon Thursday after a book reportedly revealed negative comments Bannon made about the president.

Rebekah Mercer, the daughter of hedge fund manager Robert Mercer, rebuked Bannon for his comments portrayed in a new book and reiterated her support for President Donald Trump in a statement to The Washington Post.

“I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected,” Mercer told WaPo. “My family and I have not communicated with Steve Bannon in many months and have provided no financial support to his political agenda, nor do we support his recent actions and statements.”

(…)

Mercer also told WaPo that she would still be supporting Breitbart News.

So Mercer supports the Breitbart legacy, but not Bannon.

Bannon quickly backtracked, and I speculated he would at the time. You just can’t call yourself a true Conservative and attack President Trump. In the history of modern politics there has been no man who lived up to his promises like Trump.

Bannon felt the backlash, before it actually hit him. I can only imagine what went through his mind when the first story hit. Then the realization that he was trending (badly) in the news cycle.

The fake news media had their fodder, but in this case Bannon had said it. They were reporting the truth. Bannon became the poster child for anti-Trumpers.

So what’s next for Bannon? I predicted it.

As Prison Planet reported, Breitbart readers disavowed Bannon for the most part:

The war of words exploded onto the pages of Bannon’s own Breitbart.com, but the vast majority of readers appeared to side with Donald Trump in favor of the executive chairman of Breitbart News.

“I voted for Trump…I didn’t vote for Bannon. I’ll stick with Trump, thanks,” was the top rated comment on an article about Bannon’s comments.

“The meeting was NOT “treasonous” stupid maybe, but NOT treasonous! Trump Jr. and Jared had NO idea that they were BEING SET UP by the Clinton camp, which clearly they were,” commented another user.

“The fact that Bannon blew any credibility he had by backing Moore just to spite McConnell, says a lot too. Bannon personally lost us that seat in the senate,” added another.

In addition a Twitter poll asking who Americans would vote for in a hypothetical Bannon vs Trump 2020 presidential match up overwhelmingly finds they would back Trump by a margin of more than six to one.

Speaking engagements just dried up for Bannon. And you can bet the board of Breitbart will call him in for a meeting.

Despite Bannon’s statement of support for President Trump, the damage has been done.

Nevertheless, Reuters had this to say:

A friend of Bannon, former Trump adviser Sam Nunberg, said he doubted Bannon’s relationship with Trump could be fully repaired. But he added that Bannon would retain some sway over Trump’s supporters, particularly on issues such as immigration.

“This is not the end of the world, particularly with this president,” Nunberg said.

Trump is known for casting associates out of the fold, but also for bringing them back, particularly if there are common political interests or common enemies.

The president did appear to be in a slightly forgiving mood on Thursday, noting that Bannon had praised him the night before on a radio show.

“I don’t know, he called me a great man last night,“ Trump told reporters, ”so you know, he obviously changed his tune pretty quick.”

Bannon does have one opportunity, if you want to call it that.

He can get a gig with the Left. The fake news media would happily bring him over as an anti-Trump moderate, something they sorely need. Of course, Bannon would be completely undone as a Conservative. 

But that choice does exist.

 

 

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