Khaberni - The American site "Axios" revealed that Steve Bannon, the former White House strategic advisor and one of the most prominent faces of the "America First" movement, is preparing to run for the American presidency in 2028.
The site pointed out that Bannon aims through this step to "shape the political debate" and pressure Republican candidates to adopt the "America First" agenda in its most extreme form.
According to the report, Bannon's vision is based on an isolationist "non-interventionist" foreign policy, economic populism, and an open confrontation with Big Tech companies.
According to former Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, "Bannon's campaign will be a mix of Rand Paul's isolationist foreign policy with Elizabeth Warren's populist tax policies."
"Axios" said that constitutional experts practically agree on constitutionally preventing Trump from running for a third term, which Trump himself publicly acknowledged.
It added: "However, Bannon's 'preliminary' campaign seems to aim to enhance his ideological influence within the Republican Party, either by forcing future candidates to adopt his rhetoric, or by preparing conditions for him to carry the 'banner' himself if Trump does not run for a third term, according to some of his allies’ expectations."
Note that Bannon held the position of assistant to Donald Trump during his first term, and also worked as the Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Affairs.
Trump introduced him to the American National Security Council on January 28, 2017, and later removed him from the council in April of the same year.
He also held the position of "Chief Executive Officer" for Trump's presidential campaign in 2016.
He is described in the United States as the spiritual father of President Trump, and one of the main minds behind his political rise.
He is credited with tilting the electoral balance against Hillary Clinton, and consolidating the slogan "America First" and the "MAGA" movement, which later became the ideological foundation of Trump's policies.
Who is Steve Bannon?
Born on November 27, 1953, in Norfolk, Virginia, from a working-class family of Irish Catholic origin.
He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1976 with a Bachelor's degree in urban planning and a master's degree in national security studies from Georgetown University's School of International Service.
In 1985, Bannon earned a Master of Business Administration degree with honors from Harvard Business School.
He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for 7 years in the late 1970s and early 1980s, serving on the destroyer USS Paul Foster as a surface warfare operations officer in the Pacific Fleet, then as a special aide to the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon.
After his military service, Bannon worked at Goldman Sachs as an investment banker in the mergers and acquisitions department.
In 1990, Bannon, along with some colleagues from Goldman Sachs, launched an "investment banking firm" named "Bannon & Co" specializing in the media.
Through "Bannon & Co", Bannon negotiated the sale of "Castle Rock Entertainment", a film and television production company, to "Ted Turner", founder of the "CNN" news network and owner of "Universal Studios Film Production".
In exchange, "Bannon & Co" agreed to receive a financial participation stake in five television shows, including the famous sitcom "Seinfeld".
In 1998, the French financial and banking services group "Societe Generale" acquired "Bannon & Co".
In 1990, Bannon became an executive producer in Hollywood's film and media industry.
Bannon produced 18 movies, starting from the crime film "The Indian Runner" 1991 directed by "Sean Penn" to 1999, and also as an executive producer for the tragedy film "Titus" (Titus) directed by "Julie Taymor".
Bannon became a partner with "Jeff Kwatinetz" in "The Firm", a company engaged in talent management and television production.
In 2004, Bannon authored and directed the documentary film "In the Face of Evil" about Ronald Reagan.
Through this film, he met "Peter Schweizer", the author of "Reagan's War" and an American novelist, author, and politician.
He also met publisher "Andrew Breitbart", who later described Bannon as for the Tea Party movement like "Leni Riefenstahl", the Nazi artist and director known for her innovative techniques in cinematography and direction, and BBC described her Nazi documentary films as a breakthrough in the film industry.
Bannon also participated in financing and producing several films such as "Fire from the Heartland: Awakening of the Conservative Woman" and "The Undefeated: Sarah Palin" and "Unmasking the Occupation".
In 2006, Bannon convinced "Goldman Sachs" to invest in "Internet Gaming Entertainment IGE".
After a series of disputes between partners reaching litigation, the main partners separated, and the new company was named "Affinity Media", and Bannon then became the CEO of the company.
Bannon continued as President and CEO of "Affinity Media" from 2007 until 2011.
In the meantime, Bannon spoke at the "Liberty Restoration Foundation" in Orlando, Florida, about the 2008 economic crisis, its impacts on the Social Security program (Medicare) and the health insurance program (Medicaid), and he also talked about his movie "Generation Zero" which was produced in 2010.
Bannon participated in the establishment and management of the "Government Accountability Institute", a conservative nonprofit investigative research organization, through which he contributed to the coordination of publishing the book "Clinton Cash", from its inception in 2012 until he left it in August 2016.
In 2015, Bannon was ranked number 19 in the list of "Mediaite" blog "The 25 Most Influential in Political News Media in 2015".
"Mediaite" is a blog covering political and entertainment media news and opinions.
Steve Bannon is also considered an influential figure in the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement, despite his dismissal from his position during President Donald Trump's first term.
He was released in October 2024, after serving a four-month prison sentence for "contempt of Congress", resulting from his refusal to comply with a subpoena to investigate the Capitol Riot events.
