As Steve Bannon, the right-wing radio host who was once Trump’s top advisor was arrested Monday by the FBI, he made a huge show for the cameras present. The two criminal contempt charges he’s facing stemmed from his failure to appear before Congress and his failure to produce documents that a House Committee demanded.
But it was apparent by his demeanor on Monday that he had stonewalled on purpose. It was clearly his intent to produce a media-friendly outcome meant to fire up his followers.
“We’re taking down the Biden regime,” Bannon said to the press, but it was obviously a message for fans of his podcast “War Room.”
In fact, between his indictment and his surrender to the FBI, Bannon did an episode of that podcast. During the show, the scrolling news feed at the bottom of the screen actually announced his indictment. From his behavior since then, it’s clear he meant for that to appear on his show.
Playing himself as a martyr for the larger cause, Bannon told listeners to that show:
I don’t want anybody to take their eye off the ball from what we do every day, OK? I want you guys to stay focused on message.
And what is that message, you may wonder. Bannon and his followers — indeed, all of the Trumpist Republicans in America — have a mission, and Bannon himself outlined it during that podcast episode:
We’re taking action. We’re taking over school boards. We’re taking over the Republican Party with the precinct committee strategy. We’re taking over all the elections.
They’re taking over democracy, he means. And that’s a ball we should all have our eyes on.
Whether Bannon is actually convicted and imprisoned or not, we need to understand that the GOP will not stop at January 6. They won’t stop with random outbursts from their Twitter-banned former leader.
They won’t stop until they can take over everything that’s up for grabs and turn it into Trumpworld.
Steve Bannon: "We've got the Hispanics coming on our side, African Americans coming on our side, we're taking down the Biden regime. […] I want you guys to stay focused, stay on message. Remember, signal not noise. This is all noise." https://t.co/v6vK5MVImx [1] pic.twitter.com/bCqLvWIpHG [2]
— The Hill (@thehill) November 16, 2021 [3]
Twitter had soem thoughts:
Before surrendering, Bannon publicly confessed, declaring, “We’re taking down the Biden regime!” Post-surrender he falsely claimed Biden was directing the case against him as his justification for committing what he knew was a crime. The court must throw the book at this asshole.
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) November 15, 2021 [4]
Re-upping this in light of Bannon's claim just now that "we're taking down the Biden regime" https://t.co/cJGVhTYb7c [5]
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 15, 2021 [6]
Bannon today: ‘We’re taking down the Biden regime.’
He plays the role of 'holy warrior', a martyr, willing to sacrifice himself for the far-right extremist revolution. Martyrdom is a major instrument in Nazi terrorist propaganda …which should have died out when Hitler died. pic.twitter.com/0S79Dy9jxu [7]
— Eva P 🌊 (@Eva_eva_P) November 15, 2021 [8]
Bannon just dug his own criminal contempt grave deeper
As he surrendered he told press, “I don’t want anybody to take their eye off the ball for what we do every day…We’re taking down the Biden regime.”
2 usc 192 requires “willful default”— this is more proof of willfulness! pic.twitter.com/tCKDBhT9Nt [9]
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) November 15, 2021 [10]
As Steve Bannon sheepishly turned himself in to authorities, he said “we’re taking down the Biden regime.”
Biden “regime” to Steve Bannon:
“It's not going to happen like you think it's going to happen.”— Kate 🤍🇺🇸 (@ImSpeaking13) November 15, 2021 [11]
Greaseball Bannon says he's taking down Biden Regime while being arrested. The delusion is pathetic.
— JBCookie (@JBCookie3) November 15, 2021 [12]
Fat, nasty *uck Steve Bannon a special kinda of stupid pardoned and Indicted within 10 months says "Were taking down the Biden regime." Bitch you ain't doing shit, you ass is in cuffs again. Take a bath you criminal!
— Danielle Candela (@DanielleCandela) November 15, 2021 [13]
"We're taking down the Biden regime," Bannon told journalists as he turned himself in.
Delusional. I hope his swastika tattooed friends in prison respect his decision to turn himself in.
And his nasty, scabby ass face falls off before they can even get a mugshot.
— definitely not thot cop (@baronessvonprof) November 15, 2021 [14]