Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Steve Bannon
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Steve Bannon.
Steve Bannon is an American media executive, political strategist, and former investment banker. He is known for his role as the White House's chief strategist during the initial months of Donald Trump's presidency. Prior to his White House role, Bannon served as the executive chairman of Breitbart News, a conservative news and opinion website. Since leaving the White House, he has continued to be a prominent voice in conservative media, hosting the 'War Room' podcast since 2019.
1973: Reference to "The Camp of the Saints"
In 1973, Jean Raspail wrote the controversial novel "The Camp of the Saints", which depicts Third World immigration destroying Western civilization. Steve Bannon has repeatedly referenced it.
January 1996: Bannon Charged with Domestic Violence
In early January 1996, Steve Bannon was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, battery, and dissuading a witness after his then-wife, Mary Piccard, accused him of domestic abuse. The charges were later dropped when Piccard did not appear in court due to alleged threats made by Bannon and his lawyer.
2007: Development of "Destroying the Great Satan"
In 2007, Steve Bannon proposed and developed a script for a documentary titled "Destroying the Great Satan: The Rise of Islamic Fascism in America," which centered on an alleged Muslim effort to take over America.
2010: Controversial Statements on Islam
In 2010, Steve Bannon made several controversial statements about Islam, including assertions that "Islam is not a religion of peace" and comparing it unfavorably to Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.
2014: Speech at the Vatican Conference
In 2014, during a speech delivered to a small conference in the Vatican, Steve Bannon referenced the struggle against Islam and implied Trump's America and Putin's Russia are Christian allies against Islamic terrorism.
2014: Reference to Julius Evola in Vatican Speech
In 2014, during a speech to a Vatican conference, Steve Bannon made a reference to Julius Evola, a Nazi-linked Italian writer associated with the Traditionalist School.
2015: Bannon opposes Syrian refugee resettlement
In 2015, Steve Bannon expressed opposition to resettling any refugees of the Syrian Civil War in the U.S.
2015: Agreement with American Renaissance
In 2015, a former Breitbart writer wrote that Steve Bannon said that the alt-right publication American Renaissance was "fighting the same fight" as him.
November 15, 2016: Democrats Urge Trump to Rescind Bannon Appointment
On November 15, 2016, 169 Democratic House representatives urged President-elect Trump to rescind his appointment of Steve Bannon, citing his ties to the White Nationalist movement and alleged xenophobia at Breitbart News. Bannon denied being a white nationalist, calling himself an "economic nationalist".
2016: Described Breitbart News as Platform for the Alt-Right
In 2016, Bannon described Breitbart News as "the platform for the alt-right".
2016: Cambridge Analytica Allegedly Targets American Voters
In 2016, Cambridge Analytica, where Bannon was vice president, allegedly used illegal tactics to target American voters in the election. Facebook data was reportedly collected and used for this purpose.
2016: Bannon asserts legal immigration is the beating heart of the immigration problem
In 2016, Steve Bannon asserted that illegal immigration was "horrific" but that legal immigration was "the beating heart of this problem", adding that levels of legal immigration to the U.S. were "scary"; and that legal immigrants had "kinda overwhelmed the country".
2016: Robert Mueller investigates Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election
In 2016, Steve Bannon was interviewed multiple times by Robert Mueller as part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election. Bannon was reportedly interviewed about Roger Stone's contact with WikiLeaks.
2016: Bannon remarks on criticisms
In an interview conducted in 2016, Steve Bannon remarked on some criticisms made about him, saying, "Darkness is good: Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. That's power. It only helps us when they get it wrong. When they're blind to who we are and what we're doing."
January 2017: Bannon designated as regular attendee to NSC
At the end of January 2017, Steve Bannon's position, along with that of the chief of staff, was designated as regular attendees to the National Security Council's Principals Committee by presidential memorandum. The arrangement was criticized by members of previous administrations.
February 2017: Flynn resigns from NSC
In February 2017, Michael T. Flynn resigned from the National Security Council (NSC) for misleading the vice president about a conversation with the Russian ambassador to the United States. Bannon was on the committee to check on him.
October 2017: Bannon Plans Primary Challenges Against Republican Senators
In October 2017, Steve Bannon announced his plan to sponsor primary challenges against six of the seven incumbent Republican senators in the 2018 elections. He outlined two requirements for candidates to earn his support: pledging to vote against Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader and to end the Senate filibuster.
2017: Bannon Supports Roy Moore Amidst Allegations
In 2017, Bannon received credit for helping Roy Moore defeat incumbent senator Luther Strange in the September Republican primary for the special Alabama Senate election, even though Trump had endorsed Strange. Later, after multiple women alleged sexual misconduct by Moore, Bannon doubled down on his support and questioned the veracity of the accusations. He also responded to Ivanka Trump's condemnation of Moore by referencing allegations against her father, Donald Trump.
2017: Bannon Introduced to Jeffrey Epstein
In 2017, Steve Bannon was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein by Michael Wolff, and Bannon later worked with Ehud Barak and Reid Weingarten to try and reform Epstein's public image. Bannon also reportedly prepped Epstein for a 60 Minutes interview that never occurred, but claims it was for a documentary.
2017: Opposition to Shayrat Missile Strike
In 2017, as White House chief strategist, Steve Bannon opposed the Shayrat missile strike, losing the internal debate to Kushner.
2017: Bannon warns against gun control
In 2017, following the Las Vegas shooting, Steve Bannon warned Trump against any shifts towards gun control, saying that it would be the "end of everything."
January 2018: Trump disavows Bannon after "Fire and Fury" excerpts
In January 2018, after excerpts from Fire and Fury were published, Donald Trump disavowed Steve Bannon, asserting Bannon "lost his mind" after leaving the White House. Trump attacked Bannon in multiple statements and referred to him with the unflattering nickname "Sloppy Steve".
January 2018: Bannon and Trump become estranged after "Fire and Fury" publication
In January 2018, following the publication of Michael Wolff's book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, which attributed controversial statements to Bannon, Bannon and Trump became estranged. The book quoted Bannon making disparaging remarks about Ivanka Trump and describing the meeting among Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort, and agents of Russia as "treasonous".
March 2018: "Populist Pep Talk" to National Front
In March 2018, at a party congress, Steve Bannon gave members of the French right-wing populist National Front (NF) a "populist pep talk," advising them to embrace labels like "racist" and "xenophobe," which drew criticism for "normalizing racism."
August 2018: Guo-Linked Company Enters Consulting Contract with Bannon
Starting in August 2018, a company linked to Guo Wengui entered into a $1 million consulting contract with Steve Bannon.
October 31, 2018: Senate Investigates Bannon's Activities
On October 31, 2018, it was reported that the Senate Intelligence Committee was conducting a "wide-ranging" investigation of Steve Bannon's activities during the 2016 presidential campaign. This included knowledge of contacts between Russia and campaign advisors and his role with Cambridge Analytica.
December 2018: Launch of We Build the Wall GoFundMe
In December 2018, donations were collected through a GoFundMe campaign that was launched to support the We Build the Wall fundraising campaign.
2018: Bannon Flies on Guo's Jet to Support Republican Candidates
During the 2018 election campaign, Steve Bannon flew on Guo Wengui's Bombardier Global Express to events in support of Republican congressional candidates in New Mexico and Arizona.
2018: Michael Lewis publishes Bannon quote
In 2018, Michael Lewis published a quote ascribed to Steve Bannon in his book The Fifth Risk, examining the lack of preparedness during Trump's transition to the presidency. The book excerpt's title in The Guardian used the quote twice.
2018: Defense of Trump's Ties to Putin
In 2018, Steve Bannon defended Donald Trump's ties to Vladimir Putin, suggesting that traditionalists view Russia as an ally standing up for traditional institutions and national sovereignty.
2018: Fascination with Mussolini
In 2018, Steve Bannon told an interviewer that he is "fascinated by Mussolini", commenting on his virility and fashion sense.
2018: Bannon Aids Republican House Control Efforts
In 2018, Steve Bannon used his group, Citizens of the American Republic, to aid efforts to keep Republican control of the House of Representatives in the election. The group is a dark money organization.
2018: Disavowed by Trump and Left Breitbart
In 2018, after criticism of Trump's children was reported in Michael Wolff's book Fire and Fury, Bannon was disavowed by Trump and left Breitbart.
March 14, 2019: Wilbur Ross Questioned About Citizenship Question on Census
On March 14, 2019, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross was questioned about his conversations with Steve Bannon regarding the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census surveys. Ross was accused of being "complicit" in efforts to weaken minority voting rights.
April 23, 2019: Supreme Court hears arguments on census citizenship question
On April 23, 2019, the United States Supreme Court heard arguments regarding appeals of rejections by three circuit courts of the proposed inclusion of the survey question.
October 2019: Bannon Co-hosts "War Room: Impeachment"
In October 2019, Steve Bannon began co-hosting "War Room: Impeachment", a daily radio show and podcast, offering advice to the Trump administration and its allies on countering the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump.
November 2019: Bannon testifies in Roger Stone's trial
In November 2019, Steve Bannon testified in the federal criminal trial of Roger Stone, under subpoena. Bannon testified that Stone was WikiLeaks' access point for the Trump campaign.
2019: Wolff publishes quote from Bannon in "Siege"
In his 2019 book Siege, Michael Wolff quoted Steve Bannon predicting that investigations into Donald Trump's finances would be his political downfall, stating Trump ran "what increasingly seemed to resemble a semi-criminal enterprise".
February 2020: ProPublica Reveals Bannon's Flights on Guo's Jet
In February 2020, ProPublica revealed that Steve Bannon had flown on Guo Wengui's Bombardier Global Express to events supporting Republican congressional candidates during the 2018 election campaign, raising potential campaign finance violations.
June 3, 2020: Declaration of "New Federal State of China"
On June 3, 2020, Steve Bannon and Guo Wengui participated in declaring a "New Federal State of China", stating they would overthrow the Chinese government.
July 10, 2020: Stone's prison sentence commuted
On July 10, 2020, President Trump commuted Roger Stone's federal prison sentence. Stone had been convicted on charges including lying to Congress, after Steve Bannon's testimony indicated Stone had lied to Congress.
August 2020: Bannon arrested on federal charges
In August 2020, Steve Bannon was arrested on federal charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering in connection with the We Build the Wall fundraising campaign.
August 2020: Senate committee believes Bannon misled them
In August 2020, members of the Senate intelligence committee informed the DOJ that they suspected Steve Bannon, Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump Jr. had misled them with their testimony regarding the Russia investigation.
August 2020: Investigation of Fundraising for GTV Media Group
In August 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported that the fundraising for GTV Media Group, a company co-founded by Steve Bannon and Guo Wengui, was under investigation by federal and state authorities.
August 20, 2020: Stone reacts to Bannon's arrest
On August 20, 2020, following Steve Bannon's arrest, Roger Stone commented, "Karma is a bitch. But I am praying for him."
November 5, 2020: Bannon calls for beheadings of Fauci and Wray
During the November 5, 2020, edition of his webcast, Steve Bannon called for the beheadings of Anthony Fauci and FBI director Christopher Wray. Following these comments, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter took action against Bannon's accounts, with Twitter permanently banning him.
November 2020: Bannon Promotes Li-Meng Yan's COVID-19 Account
In November 2020, The New York Times reported that Steve Bannon and Guo Wengui had been promoting Li-Meng Yan's account of COVID-19, which was later rejected as misinformation.
2020: Arrested on Federal Charges
In 2020, Bannon was arrested on federal charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering connected to the We Build the Wall fundraising campaign.
2020: Bannon Starts "War Room: Pandemic" Podcast
In 2020, Steve Bannon began a podcast called "War Room: Pandemic", broadcast from his Capitol Hill townhouse. Trump reportedly told others that he watched the program and cited specific interviews he had seen when speaking with Bannon that summer.
2020: Skepticism about Soleimani Assassination
In 2020, Steve Bannon expressed skepticism regarding the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, questioning its necessity and potential to escalate military issues with Iran, which could undermine Trump's support.
2020: Citizenship question on the 2020 census surveys
In 2020, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform investigated the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census surveys, where Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross was questioned about his conversations with Steve Bannon regarding the matter.
January 9, 2021: YouTube removes Bannon's podcast channels
On January 9, 2021, YouTube removed Steve Bannon's podcast channel and another channel called "Trump at War – A Film by Stephen K. Bannon" due to violations of their Terms of Service.
January 20, 2021: China Imposes Sanctions Against Bannon
On January 20, 2021, the Chinese government imposed sanctions against Steve Bannon and 27 other Trump administration officials for actions that "gravely interfered in China's internal affairs."
February 2021: Manhattan DA issues subpoenas related to "We Build the Wall" venture
In February 2021, the Manhattan District Attorney issued subpoenas to Wells Fargo Bank and GoFundMe, related to accounts used for the "We Build the Wall" venture.
May 2021: Fraud case dismissed against Bannon
In May 2021, Judge Torres dismissed the fraud case against Steve Bannon, citing the precedent of criminal cases being dismissed following presidential pardons. Torres noted that the pardon implies guilt, even without a guilty plea.
September 23, 2021: House Committee Subpoenas Bannon
On September 23, 2021, the U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack subpoenaed Steve Bannon, ordering him to appear on October 14. His lawyers informed the committee he would not comply.
November 12, 2021: Bannon Indicted on Contempt Charges
On November 12, 2021, Steve Bannon was indicted by a federal grand jury on two criminal contempt charges for not providing documents and not testifying before Congress.
April 2022: Appeal Rejected
In April 2022, an appeals court rejected Steve Bannon's appeal regarding his failure to testify before the January 6 Committee.
July 2022: Convicted of Contempt of Congress
In July 2022, Bannon was convicted of contempt of Congress and sentenced to four months in prison and a $6,500 fine for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the January 6 House select committee.
July 18, 2022: Bannon's Trial Begins
On July 18, 2022, the trial against Steve Bannon began, with the jury finalized the next day.
July 22, 2022: Bannon Found Guilty on Both Charges
On July 22, 2022, Steve Bannon was found guilty on both charges of contempt of Congress. Representatives from the January 6 Committee and DOJ commented on the verdict.
August 2022: Bannon Indicted on New York State Charges
In August 2022, Steve Bannon was indicted on New York state charges including money laundering, conspiracy, and fraud related to the $25 million "We Build the Wall" scheme, which Bannon claimed was politically motivated.
September 8, 2022: Bannon Surrenders to Authorities
On September 8, 2022, Steve Bannon surrendered to authorities.
October 21, 2022: Bannon Sentenced to Prison
On October 21, 2022, Judge Nichols sentenced Steve Bannon to four months in prison and a $6,500 fine for contempt of Congress.
November 4, 2022: Bannon Appeals Conviction and Sentence
On November 4, 2022, Steve Bannon appealed his conviction and sentence and remained free pending appeal, with his sentence put on hold.
January 2023: Bannon's Lawyers Allege Improper Search
In January 2023, Steve Bannon's lawyers argued that the DOJ had improperly searched his private communications.
February 2023: Brookings Institution Study on Bannon's Podcast
In February 2023, a Brookings Institution study found that Bannon's podcast contained the highest proportion of false, misleading, and unsubstantiated statements among 36,603 episodes produced by 79 prominent political podcasters.
July 2023: Bannon Ordered to Pay Legal Fees
In July 2023, Steve Bannon was ordered to pay the remaining balance of legal fees to Davidoff, Hutcher & Citron LLP, who represented him in cases for contempt of Congress and the "We Build the Wall" fraud scheme.
December 2023: Bannon Advocates for Arming Children
In December 2023, Steve Bannon advocated for integrating gun classes into school curriculums, suggesting it would help children defend themselves against bullies.
May 10, 2024: Appellate Court Upholds Conviction
On May 10, 2024, the appellate court unanimously upheld Steve Bannon's conviction, and the DOJ filed a motion to lift his stay of sentence.
May 27, 2024: Original Trial Date Postponed
Originally expected to commence on May 27, 2024, Steve Bannon's trial was postponed due to Judge Juan Merchan's unavailability as he was also overseeing the Trump "hush-money" case.
June 6, 2024: Judge Orders Bannon to Report to Prison
On June 6, 2024, Judge Carl Nichols granted the motion to lift the stay and ordered Steve Bannon to report to prison by July 1 unless the full appeals court intervened, stipulating he would go to Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury.
July 1, 2024: Bannon Reports to Prison
On July 1, 2024, Steve Bannon reported to the Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury in Connecticut, where he resided in a special veterans housing unit.
September 23, 2024: Trial Date Set
September 23, 2024 was the day the trial was set to be held.
October 2024: Imprisonment in Federal Prison
In October 2024, after losing his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, Bannon was released from federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, where he had been imprisoned since July 2024.
October 29, 2024: Bannon Released From Prison
On October 29, 2024, Steve Bannon was released from Bureau of Prisons custody.
December 9, 2024: Case Reassigned and Rescheduled
On December 9, 2024, due to an ongoing conflict, Steve Bannon's case was reassigned to Judge April Newbauer, who then rescheduled it.
February 11, 2025: Bannon Pleads Guilty and Sentenced
On February 11, 2025, Steve Bannon pleaded guilty to one state felony count of a scheme to defraud in the first degree and received a three-year conditional discharge.
February 2025: Pleaded Guilty to Fraud
In February 2025, Bannon pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced to three years of conditional discharge in New York state court.
February 2025: Bannon pleaded guilty to one state felony count of a scheme to defraud
In February 2025, Steve Bannon pleaded guilty to one state felony count of a scheme to defraud in the first degree and received a three-year conditional discharge, avoiding prison time and restitution.
February 2025: Controversy at CPAC Meeting
In February 2025, at a Conservative Political Action Conference meeting, Steve Bannon closed his pro-Trump remarks with what appeared to some as a Nazi salute. As a result, National Rally president Jordan Bardella canceled his scheduled speech.
February 25, 2025: Trial Rescheduled
On February 25, 2025, Judge Newbauer rescheduled the trial at Steve Bannon's request.
June 2025: Opposition to US Involvement in Iran-Israel War
In June 2025, Steve Bannon opposed U.S. involvement in the Iran–Israel War, cautioning Trump about trusting Israeli intelligence and suggesting that strikes on Iran could endanger U.S. soldiers. He also criticized Israel and pro-Israel commentators following ceasefire violations.
Mentioned in this timeline
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician the current President of...
Tucker Carlson is an American conservative political commentator known for...
George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist with a...
Facebook is a social media and networking service created in...
Anthony Stephen Fauci is a prominent American physician-scientist and immunologist...
Trending
6 months ago DeAndre Jordan on Malone's Ring, Westbrook Statement, and Russ' Last Chance.
3 months ago Shapovalov advances to Los Cabos final, continuing strong performance at Mifel Tennis Open.
5 months ago Jeremy Renner Details Near-Death Experience and His Feelings About Being Revived
4 months ago Jenna Bush Hager's on-air slip: Al Roker and Barbara Bush 'made out'?
2 hours ago Michael Douglas and Brittany Murphy's 'Don't Say a Word' Thrills Netflix Subscribers
2 hours ago Jaume Munar Dominates Ben Shelton Again in Basel, Extends Winning Streak
Popular
George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist with a...
The White House located at Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington...
Bernie Sanders is a prominent American politician currently serving as...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Charlie Kirk is an American right-wing political activist entrepreneur and...
Paula White-Cain is a prominent American televangelist and key figure...