Steve Bannon has warned President Donald Trump and the Republican Party that there is a 'massive lack of enthusiasm' among the MAGA base heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
Bannon, Trump's former adviser, complained that Republicans were 'running for the hills' over negotiations on Department of Homeland Security funding. 'Step up and do something,' he said on his War Room podcast. 'You have a massive lack of enthusiasm among the base because they're sitting there going, 'I'm just not feeling it right now.''
He cited polling from conservatives Rich Baris and Mark Mitchell suggesting trouble for Republicans. Baris's early polling found Democrats leading on the generic ballot 46.1% to 42.0% among likely voters, with Democrats also holding an advantage among 'Extremely Enthusiastic' voters (53.6% to 41.8%). Mitchell said the Trump administration 'chose theatrics over results, and is paying the price politically.'
Factions of Trump's MAGA base have complained about the president's focus on international politics and dissatisfaction with the cost of living. Bannon also faced controversy for claiming that federal immigration officers will 'surround the polls' in November, saying: 'We will never again allow an election to be stolen.'
