In a recent development, Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist and conservative podcast host, has issued a statement in response to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Bannon, who is currently serving a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress, issued his statement from a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. His conviction was a result of his failure to respond to a subpoena by the House Select Committee investigating the Capitol riot that took place on January 6, 2021.
According to Newsweek, Bannon made his statement to The National Pulse, a conservative media outlet, following the attempt on Trump's life. Bannon expressed his concern, stating, "I've warned about this very thing for over a yearan assassination attemptthe threat is real, very real. Thankfully, President Trump wears the Armor of God. Today, our leader showed total command presence, stood tall, and said 'FIGHT'!"
The incident occurred while Trump was addressing a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A bullet struck his ear during the event, resulting in the death of Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former firefighter. Two other attendees were also injured. The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was subsequently killed by Secret Service agents.
Bannon, who hosted a podcast prior to his incarceration, has repeatedly warned of potential violence against Trump. He has attributed these threats to the "administrative state and their deep state apparatus," although he has not provided any concrete evidence to support his claims.
Earlier this year, Bannon faced criticism for referring to the FBI's raid on Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in August 2022 as an "assassination attempt." This controversial statement was made on Infowars, a platform run by well-known conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Bannon defended his stance on May 28, stating, "[The FBI] wanted somebody to bleed out. This entire thing was thought through, in a high level of detailand they weren't absolutely sure Trump wasn't going to be there. Remember, those kind of decisions by Trump are at the last minute... They were looking to have a confrontation that would be an armed confrontation."
In the aftermath of the raid, which resulted in the recovery of boxes filled with classified documents held by the former president, Bannon expressed his belief that the "administrative state and their deep state apparatus" could potentially plan an assassination of President Trump, stating that "everything is on the table."
Trump, on his Truth Social website, claimed that the DOJ "AUTHORIZED THE FBI TO USE DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE" during the operation. This claim was supported by a court filing unsealed in May, which included briefing notes for the Mar-a-Lago raid stating, "Law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary." However, the FBI later clarified, "The FBI followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force. No one ordered additional steps to be taken and there was no departure from the norm in this matter."
In response to the assassination attempt, President Joe Biden condemned the act, stating, "There is no place in America for this kind of violence for any violence. Ever. Period. No exception. We can't allow this violence to be normalized." Trump, on the other hand, urged unity and resilience, posting on Truth Social, "At this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win."
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