Donald Trump's allies have become increasingly emboldened to float their most audacious ideas as Trump prepares to return to office. At a gala dinner in New York on Sunday, former strategist Steve Bannon suggested Trump should run for an unconstitutional third term in 2028, and accused the news media of engaging in a criminal conspiracy with prosecutors against him.
Speaking at the New York Young Republican Club gala dinner, Bannon claimed that the US Constitution does not explicitly require consecutive terms, sparking speculation about a potential 2028 bid. The event was marked by a self-congratulatory atmosphere, with Bannon doubling down on a campaign of retribution against Trump's perceived enemies in the media and justice department.
Bannon called for investigations, trials, and incarcerations, specifically targeting figures such as MSNBC's Andrew Weissmann and Rachel Maddow, alongside former Attorney General Merrick Garland, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and former Special Counsel Jack Smith. He accused them of collusion in a vast criminal conspiracy against Trump.
The gala also featured a dramatic moment when senior Trump campaign adviser Alex Bruesewitz collapsed off the stage in an apparent medical episode. Organisers later said he was treated on site and speculated he had a seizure. Trump's incoming deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino then took the stage, only to receive a call from Trump himself, which was put on speakerphone.
The event drew a range of Trumpworld figures, including in-house counsel Boris Epshteyn, Nigel Farage, and legal adviser Mike Davis. Kash Patel, Trump's pick to lead the FBI, was invited but did not attend. Bannon singled out Epshteyn for orchestrating Trump's legal victories, including the dismissal of criminal cases against him.
