Steve Bannon, the former Trump strategist turned right-wing influencer, has claimed that President Donald Trump faces no meaningful resistance as he pursues a “maximalist strategy” that has seen the erosion of civil rights and democratic norms. In an interview with The Atlantic, Bannon said: “You have to take it however deep you can take it and, quite frankly, until you meet resistance. And we haven’t met any resistance.”
Bannon, who hosts the War Room podcast, argued that the Overton window – the range of ideas deemed acceptable in public discourse – has shifted without consequence. He cited recent actions including the military capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, renewed efforts to seize Greenland, and the fatal shooting of a woman by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Trump’s first year has also seen National Guard patrols in cities, unauthorised bombings abroad, and mass deportations that have swept up American citizens.
Despite the administration’s aggressive moves, Trump’s job approval rating has reached new lows, particularly among independent voters. A former senior official close to the president told The Atlantic that Trump skillfully frames his actions as necessary to target “bad” people, forcing opponents to defend unpopular positions. “Even if your constitutional argument is strong, you are still effectively defending a narco-terrorist,” the official said.
