Steve Bannon Dismisses JD Vance as MAGA Heir, Champions Trump Third Term
Influential MAGA figure Steve Bannon has publicly rejected the notion that Vice President JD Vance is the natural successor to lead the populist conservative movement under President Donald Trump. Speaking at the Semafor World Economy conference in Washington, D.C., Bannon, a former White House chief strategist and prominent podcast host, was questioned about Vance's positioning but refused to back him, instead emphasising his support for Trump serving an unprecedented third term.
Bannon's Unwavering Support for Trump
When asked by moderator Ben Smith if he was endorsing Vance, Bannon responded, "No, not at all," and redirected the conversation to Trump's leadership. He stated, "MAGA has President Trump, and as you know, I'm a huge advocate of President Trump's third term." This stance highlights a significant constitutional hurdle, as Trump would require approval from both the House of Representatives and Senate to legally serve a third term, a move that has not been attempted in U.S. history.
Bannon further engaged the audience, composed largely of journalists, lobbyists, and political insiders, by asking, "I think you guys all paid your taxes here yesterday. Is there anyone in the room who would not vote for President Trump and what he's trying to do with his economy?" The question elicited laughter but underscored his clear reluctance to support Vance, a position that gains weight amid growing MAGA dissatisfaction with the ongoing war in Iran.
MAGA Discontent and Vance's Struggles
The rejection comes as many within the MAGA movement criticise the Iran conflict, arguing it contradicts Trump's election promises. This has led Trump to publicly clash with figures like Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones. Vance, who reportedly advised against Operation Epic Fury privately, attempted to mend fences with young conservatives at a sparsely attended Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia.
During the event, Vance acknowledged, "a lot of young voters don't love the policy that we have in the Middle East," and urged them to "get more involved" rather than disengage. However, this outreach was met with scepticism from conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who warned Vance on his show not to take their objections lightly. Shapiro cautioned that Vance cannot assume automatic inheritance of Trump's coalition if he becomes the 2028 Republican nominee, drawing parallels to Hillary Clinton's failed bid to match Barack Obama's support in 2016.
A Challenging Week for Vance
Shapiro added that Vance had been "relegated to placating the crazies" like Tucker Carlson and podcaster Theo Von, who have opposed the war and questioned Vance's credibility. This criticism compounds a difficult period for the vice president, which included failed peace talks with Iran in Pakistan, a backfired endorsement of Viktor Orban in Hungary's elections, and having to defend Trump's attack on Pope Leo XIV amidst Vance's upcoming memoir about his conversion to Catholicism.
According to CNN, Trump has privately expressed dissatisfaction with Vance's international performance, seeking allies' opinions on him. Bannon's refusal to endorse Vance, coupled with Shapiro's warnings and internal MAGA strife, signals a turbulent path ahead for the vice president as he navigates his role within the movement and potential future ambitions.
