Again, Steve Bannon

Steve Bannon is, of course, no fan of Elon Musk, whom he understandably despises for taking the role he’d planned for himself, that is, all-powerful head-of-government to Trump’s largely symbolic position as head-of-state. Or, if you prefer a chess metaphor, magisterial Queen to his impotent King. 

Perhaps, then, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Bannon has equally little love for the tech company CEOs and other powerful men who make up Trump’s government. In a recent CNN interview, Bannon said that Musk and other tech “oligarchs” will abandon Trump and the MAGA movement as soon as they can profitably do so. 

It is intriguing that I disagree with Mr. Bannon on so very many things…but, now and then, I found myself admiring his political sagacity, for in this he is undoubtedly correct. The oligarchs will turn on MAGA at the first available opportunity. They are not even wolves in sheep’s clothing. They are simply wolves counting on the sheep to somehow pretend that they are shepherds. 

Poor Steve Bannon

Poor Steve Bannon.

Say what you like about him, but he does have an ideology. He does believe in something other than himself. That puts him far and away beyond some other figures on the Right.

And he worked like a champ for years to put Trump in the White House, not once but twice. I’m sure he saw Trump as his sledgehammer, the tool by which the old Liberal Institutions would be removed, leaving room for his carefully constructed National Conservative alternative.

Only, here he is, after all his labors…

And it turns out that the Prime Minister of his cardboard King is not himself, but Musk…who believes in quite a different utopia. If anything.

That must hurt.

A great deal.

Mesa, Jesus. "Steve Bannon Escalates Feud With Elon Musk, Calls Him ‘Parasitic Illegal Immigrant’." Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025, https://www.newsweek.com/steve-bannon-escalates-feud-elon-musk-parasitic-illegal-immigrant-2032675.