Portrait of Steve Bannon
Politician · concept
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Steve Bannon on Social Media

Deplatformed operator (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Steve Bannon leverages online platforms like podcasts to push his populist agenda, leading to repeated bans from major sites.

Key Points

  • In November 2020, Twitter permanently suspended his account following comments where he called for the beheading of Anthony Fauci and Christopher Wray.

  • YouTube removed his podcast channel, War Room, in January 2021 following the appearance of Rudy Giuliani promoting false election fraud claims.

  • In August 2017, after leaving the White House, his departure spurred strong reactions on social media, with some public figures calling for his removal due to his association with white nationalism.

Summary

Steve Bannon's engagement with social media is characterized by his extensive use of alternative platforms and podcasts, particularly his War Room broadcast, to disseminate his political message after being de-platformed by mainstream sites. He was permanently banned from Twitter and had his YouTube channel deleted following controversial remarks, including a call for the beheading of public health and law enforcement officials in November 2020. This forced his transition to less-moderated spaces, such as podcast directories like Apple’s, where he continued to command a large audience, claiming millions of downloads for his show.

His position regarding established social media companies is largely adversarial, framed as a battle against a "left-wing conspiracy" within Big Tech aiming to silence conservatives, which he exploits for grievance politics. He has criticized high-profile tech figures, such as Elon Musk, calling the CEO "truly evil" in early 2025 amid perceived political rifts. Despite being removed from certain services, the content strategist remains active, often using his podcast to criticize the platforms that restrict him and to promote alternative digital infrastructure, though reports suggest some accounts associated with him are covertly used by extremist groups.

Key Quotes

The media here is the opposition party. They don't understand this country. They still do not understand why Donald Trump is the president of the United States.

I don't mind being shut down for my craziness, but I'm not going to be shut down for yours

He is a truly evil guy, a very bad guy. I made it my personal thing to take this guy down. Before, because he put money in, I was prepared to tolerate it – I'm not prepared to tolerate it any more

Frequently Asked Questions

Steve Bannon's position is marked by his advocacy through media while simultaneously being a frequent target of de-platforming from major sites. He heavily utilizes his War Room podcast to push his agenda, framing his bans as evidence of a conspiracy against conservatives by Big Tech. He actively seeks out platforms that are less restrictive of his content.

His approach to social media has certainly changed out of necessity; he was banned from prominent platforms like Twitter and YouTube for violating terms of service regarding violence. This has driven him to rely more heavily on podcasts and alternative digital spaces to maintain his reach. However, his underlying antagonism toward mainstream tech companies remains consistent.

Steve Bannon has frequently criticized major social media companies, accusing them of censorship and operating as an opposition party against his political movement. He has exploited his de-platforming to argue that Big Tech is biased against conservatives. He also claimed to have previously recruited Internet trolls from platforms like the one associated with Gamergate to engage in political activism.