Steve Bannon fired up conservatives at the Conservative Political Action Conference on March 3, voicing strong support for former President Donald J. Trump while criticizing powerful figures in the conservative world.
“MAGA, MAGA, MAGA!” the “War Room” host and former Trump adviser chanted after a speech excoriating Fox News for its past coverage of Trump.
“We came off of on 3 November of 2020 four years of peace and prosperity,” he told the crowd, adding that he believes the 2020 presidential election was not legitimate.
Trump, Bannon said, “is the leader of the most powerful political movement in American history.”
‘The Storm Is Here’
Bannon told conservatives the world has entered a new period of darkness and strife.“There’s no longer a gathering storm. The storm is here,” he said.
He argued that geopolitical developments and forces in the capital markets are converging to make the world as dangerous as it’s been since the runup to World War 2.
With the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes being widely felt, Bannon described those increases as a major impediment to everyday Americans.
“The people crushed the most are Millennials,” he said.
“They are going to be Russian serfs. They’re not going to own anything.”
Bannon argued that Republicans must not compromise on addressing the United States’ massive debt.
“You need dramatic cuts in spending right now and not one penny increase to the debt ceiling,” he said.
He also painted a grim picture of international affairs, as China ups its coordination with Iran, Russia, and other regimes unfriendly to the United States.
Bannon stressed that the one-two punch of bad fiscal policy and bad foreign policy could ultimately drive the United States to World War III.
“Your sons and daughters are going to die on foreign battlefields,” he warned, before urging the crowd to “stand up and fight it.”
“Are you prepared to fight back?” he asked, receiving cheers from the crowd.
He went on to criticize U.S. spending in Ukraine.
“We’ve paid enough in the wars in Europe. We’re not a European power. We’re a Pacific power!” he declared to sustained cheers from the audience.
He also challenged wealthy Republican donors, who he said want the party base to believe Trump won’t be reelected in 2024.
“Don’t fall for their primary stuff,” he said
Bannon Versus Fox News
The “War Room” host criticized Fox News and its owners, the Murdoch family, led by Rupert Murdoch.“Show us what the Murdochs, a bunch of foreigners, have given us,” he said.
“Donald J. Trump, let me repeat, in a very volatile time in American history, gave us four years of peace and prosperity. And you know why? You know why? He put you in the room to make decisions,” Bannon said.
He questioned why Fox News did not cover the former president’s visit to East Palestine, Ohio.
He said Trump’s greatest immediate foes weren’t any of the GOP 2024 hopefuls or likely candidates.
“He’s up against Ken Griffin and Mitch McConnell and Murdoch, okay?” Bannon said.
“If he wins the primary, they’re going to work for the Democrats, just like they worked for Hillary Clinton. I was there. I can tell you they were in Clinton’s camp the entire way.”
“All they are is about money,” he added.
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