Former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon is laying the groundwork for a 2028 run for president, two people familiar with his thinking tell Axios.
Why it matters: The MAGA godfather isn't serious about becoming president — that's not the point. Instead, he's told allies he wants to shape the debate and pressure Republican candidates to embrace an "America First" agenda — including a non-interventionist foreign policy, economic populism and opposition to Big Tech.
- Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who has appeared on Bannon's "War Room" podcast, said: "The Bannon campaign will merge the foreign policy of Rand Paul with the tax policy of Elizabeth Warren."
Bannon adamantly denied a run to Axios, calling the idea "bullsh*t" and saying he's been focused on something else for 2028: supporting a third term for President Trump, despite the Constitution's two-term limit on presidents.
- "We don't have a country if we don't get every ounce of fight and energy from President Trump — you can drive a Mack Truck through the 22nd Amendment — and that's exactly what I intend to do in order to save our country," Bannon told us.
- Bannon said he's helping with an upcoming book by lawyer Alan Dershowitz, "Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term?" The legal analysis, out in March, lays out an argument for how Trump could constitutionally serve a third term.
Behind the scenes: At the same time, Bannon quietly has taken several steps to prepare a possible campaign, the two sources familiar with his thinking say.
- He has expressed interest in setting up a PAC that could spend money in midterm races and has talked with allies to see who might work for him, the sources told Axios.
- Bannon appeared at events last year hosted by the Colorado and Georgia Republican parties, an indication he's looking to curry favor with local organizers who play a role in primaries.
This past Friday, Bannon orchestrated a massive "Save Texas from Radical Islam" all-day conference and dinner, including 150 grassroots leaders from 22 groups, in Grapevine, Texas. The event was organized by WarRoom and sponsor Patriot Mobile, with Glenn Beck as keynote. Bannon told us the event drew 750 — the ballroom limit — with 1,000+ requests for tickets. He launches "WarRoom: Texas" on Monday.
- Bannon said he's moving his show to Texas for the entire month of February to focus on a Texas primary on March 3.
Bannon associates, familiar with his private comments on the 2028 election, envision a nontraditional campaign run from his Capitol Hill podcast studio — and without rallies in early primary states such as Iowa and New Hampshire.
- One Bannon ally said the biggest "tell" that he's weighing a run is his cheerleading for a third Trump term. "When Trump doesn't end up running, he'll reluctantly say he must carry the mantle," the ally predicted.
- Constitutional scholars overwhelmingly say Trump is barred from running for a third term. The president himself has said "it's pretty clear" he's not allowed to.
Zoom in: For now, Bannon is not-so-subtly pressuring three potential GOP contenders for president in 2028.
1. Vice President Vance: During a recent "WarRoom" episode, Bannon name-checked Vance in urging the White House to take on Big Tech.
- Vance has deep relationships in the tech world, including with early Facebook investor and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, whom Vance counts as a mentor. "If you're in the White House not standing up to [tech], you're part of the problem and that's all gonna get exposed," Bannon said.
- A source close to Vance brushed off the criticism. "JD counts Steve as a friend and ideological ally on nationalism/populism," the source said in a text message. Vance has spoken out against the tech community on several occasions.
2. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: Bannon — a vocal critic of U.S. support for Israel — has accused Rubio of being too cozy with Israel.
- In October, Bannon slammed Rubio for appearing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "If you want a greater Israel project, we're not gonna stop you. We're just not gonna support it," Bannon said.
- Representatives for Rubio didn't respond to requests for comment.
3. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas): Bannon has attacked Cruz over his support for Israel and for supporting a bill that would have minimized AI regulation.
- "Ted Cruz was the shill for Big Tech on the AI bill," Bannon said last year. "He was holding the MAGA movement hostage."
- A source close to Cruz noted that the senator was "100% aligned" with Trump's policies on Israel and AI.
Axios' Holly Otterbein contributed to this story.
