‘He believes in power and chaos’: alarm as Steve Bannon plots to propel Trump

The ex-White House chief strategist is no longer in daily contact with Trump, but his influence on the Maga right remains total

Wearing an olive green jacket over a black shirt, Steve Bannon blew the doors off a subject that most other speakers had tiptoed around. Media, I want you to suck on this, I want the White House to suck on this: you lost in 2020!" he roared. Donald Trump is the legitimate president of the United States!"

A thrill of transgression swept through the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the National Harbor in Maryland. Trump won!" Bannon barked, pointing a finger. Trump won!" he repeated, shaking a fist. Trump won!" he proclaimed again. His audience, as if hypnotised, chanted the brazen lie in unison.

It was a blunt reminder that Bannon, an architect of Trumpism variously compared to Thomas Cromwell, Rasputin and Joseph Goebbels, remains a potent force in American politics as the 2024 US presidential election looms into view and the re-election of Trump looks a clear possibility.