by Viviana Mazza
Interview with Steve Bannon, former strategist of the Trump presidency: «Meloni should return to the positions he had before becoming prime minister. With Donald, Maga is strong: we will take on national security and foreign policy”
FROM OUR REPORTER
WASHINGTON – Steve Bannon he arranged to meet us at 11am on 11/11, the time and day of the armistice which marked the end of the First World War. It’s Veterans Day, a national holiday. He is sitting at a table at home in front of the fireplace, surrounded by cameras: he is recording his online program «War Room» with the help of an assistant. The climate is not one of armistice. «We cannot wait for Trump to take office: the battle for control of the government is happening right now: in the House, in the Senate, in the administrative state, in Defense, the judges…». THE’former strategist for Trump’s 2016 victory leads the media arm of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. He says the priorities now are the “deconstruction of the administrative state” and public debt, “the main threat to national security.” Tomorrow’s Trump-Biden meeting? «A courtesy of Trump, I’m happy he does it, but he doesn’t need it. I would not invite Biden to the inauguration. They say we need unity. We will have unity after we purged the traitors.”
In March you told us that if Giorgia Meloni wanted to be welcomed back after Trump’s victory she would have to demonstrate that she had changed her position on Ukraine.
«I was talking about the Maga movement, not Trump. He does not make these requests of other countries. But I think many in the movement here think that Meloni has almost turned into a Nikki Haley. She was among the biggest supporters of the continuation of the war in Ukraine. But Italy hasn’t done enough to keep the Suez Canal open for trade: among the carrier battlegroups there, I think there is only one Italian corvette. However, I think her attitude will change with the arrival of President Trump, who will convince her. And that NATO countries will get on board quite quickly. Otherwise, if she really believes what she has said in recent years, she should be ready with others in Europe to put money into it, to write checks as big as the speeches. We in the Maga movement are adamant, we want to cut the funding for Ukraine in the Chamber by 100%.
So is there a difference between what the «Maga» movement and the Trump administration could ask of Prime Minister Meloni?
«100%. But Trump will say he wants peace in Ukraine. I don’t speak for him, but it is clear that he wants to put an end to this semi-obsession of pushing NATO almost into Russian territory. He won’t support her, but she did, she played along. It’s pretty obvious that he bet Trump would never come back, you can see it in his policies. The bet was wrong, it didn’t pay off. Now that Trump is back, the Maga movement is stronger than ever and we will take over the national security and foreign policy apparatus.”
Can Meloni be a bridge between America and Europe?
“If he stays true to his core beliefs, yes.”
Can it help?
«We don’t need help from anyone in Europe. The populists have taken over this country, Trump is a great leader and I am sure he will be magnanimous, but the Maga movement, which is further to the right than Trump, will say that Europe has done nothing for the United States. We saved you in World Wars I and II, in the Cold War and in Ukraine. Enough. Why would we need a bridge? We have a model, America First: bring economic and job security back to the country. If you want a partner, ok, otherwise ok the same. The Maga movement doesn’t need a bridge, because Le Pen, Farage and Orbán are with us. I would recommend to Meloni: be what you were when Fratelli d’Italia was at 3%.”
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Have you been in contact with Salvini?
“No, I was 100% behind helping Trump return to the White House: 20 hours a day for 4 years, without a day off except when I was in prison.”
In Europe many are worried about tariffs.
«They should be. We will not pay for your defense while we let you hit us with lopsided trade deals. Yes, tariffs are coming, you will have to pay to have access to the US market. It’s no longer free, the free market is over, because Europe has abused us, as the other allies have done.”
Will he return to the White House?
“No, I have much more power here. We need alternative media: podcasts, streaming, Twitter beat traditional media in this election. Why should I give it up?”.
You talked about purges at the Pentagon. What will happen to public officials?
«It depends on the president and his circle but it is possible to eliminate entire departments. It will be an aggressive operation. And Stephen Miller, the new White House deputy chief of staff for policy, will be central.”
Who are the important figures in the transition team?
«Robert F. Kennedy, Tulsi Gabbard, Elon MuskTucker Carlson, Don jr, 5th or 6th person».
And you don’t go to Mar-a-Lago?
«There’s no need, I need to stay here. And I’m in contact with them 24 hours a day.”
Pompeo and Haley will not return to government.
«Their political career is over. That tweet from President Trump killed her.”
The Wall Street Journal writes that it is to avoid competition for JD Vance when he runs for the White House.
«No, I’m neocon. JD will do what he has to, we’ll see if he has Trump’s support. But such a decision is not to protect JD Vance.”
November 12, 2024 (modified November 12, 2024 | 11:24)
