Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein Discussed Removing Trump via 25th Amendment
Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case have revealed that long-time Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon and the convicted sex offender discussed invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the former president from office during his first term. The explosive text message exchange, which began on New Year's Eve in 2018, shows the two men debating Trump's political stability shortly after Democrats retook the House of Representatives in the midterm elections.
Text Messages Reveal Concerns About Trump's Fitness
In the conversation, Bannon lamented that the White House had "zero plan to punch back" against political opponents. Epstein responded by stating, "He is really borderline. Not sure what he may do." Bannon then escalated the discussion, replying, "I think it's beyond borderline — 25 amendment," directly referencing the constitutional provision that allows the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare a president unfit for office.
Elsewhere in the exchange, Bannon suggested "we really need an intervention" regarding Trump's presidency. These revelations come from files recently made public as part of ongoing investigations into Epstein's network, providing unprecedented insight into conversations among powerful figures during Trump's administration.
Conservative Backlash and Political Reactions
The release of these messages has sparked significant controversy within conservative circles. Former Trump national security adviser Mike Flynn called on the Department of Justice to question Bannon about the exchange in a post on social media platform X. Former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a Trump ally, echoed these concerns, noting that while Bannon served prison time for Trump, his communications with Epstein about the 25th Amendment were inexcusable.
"Steve Bannon went to jail for Trump," Greene stated in her response. "But back on 1-1-19, after Democrats took the House, he was texting with Epstein about the 25th amendment. Also, there is no excuse for having such a friendly relationship with Epstein, post conviction, 2018-19. None."
Bannon's Documentary Project and Ongoing Loyalty
At the time of these communications, Bannon had been out of the Trump administration for over a year and was working on a documentary project about Epstein. According to analysis by The New York Times, Bannon communicated with Epstein about media training, image rehabilitation, and legal representation in the six months before Epstein's arrest on sex trafficking charges in summer 2019.
Bannon has defended these communications as part of his work as a documentary filmmaker, telling The New York Times, "I am a filmmaker and TV host with decades of experience interviewing controversial figures. That's the only lens through which these private communications should be viewed — a documentary filmmaker working, over a period of time, to secure 50 hours of interviews from a reclusive subject." He added that the film was intended to "destroy the very myths he created" about Epstein.
Continued Support Despite Controversial Discussions
Despite these revelations about discussions to remove Trump from office, Bannon has remained a devoted supporter of the former president. In 2024, he served a four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress after refusing to cooperate with the investigation into the January 6 Capitol insurrection. More recently, the far-right podcaster has advocated for Trump to seek an unconstitutional third term in office, demonstrating his continued alignment with Trump's political ambitions.
The Independent has contacted representatives for Steve Bannon for comment on these newly revealed communications. The Epstein files continue to generate political fallout as more documents become public, revealing previously unknown connections and conversations among influential figures during Trump's presidency.
