Steve Bannon, the former Trump strategist who refuses to leave the national stage, appears to be quietly plotting a political move that could shake up the Republican Party in 2028 — and Vice President J.D. Vance may be in his crosshairs.
Publicly, Bannon insists he’s not running for office and dismisses any notion of a personal power play. “That’s bullsh*t,” he told reporters when asked about 2028 speculation. But multiple allies and insiders paint a very different picture. They say Bannon is laying the groundwork to influence the GOP primary and position himself to undermine candidates like Vance.
According to sources familiar with his plans, Bannon’s goal isn’t just to shape policy — it’s to ensure that candidates who rise in the post-Trump GOP embrace his “America First” priorities. That includes economic populism, a non-interventionist foreign policy, and aggressive anti–Big Tech stances. Allies insist that his public support for Trump’s continued influence may be a smokescreen for his own ambitions.
Bannon has been quietly organizing political events and building media platforms to energize the conservative base. His “WarRoom” initiatives, coupled with high-profile conferences like the recent all-day “Save Texas from Radical Islam” gathering, demonstrate his commitment to mobilizing grassroots activists — a network he could leverage against rivals like Vance.
While Bannon publicly frames his efforts as supporting Trump, insiders say that his behind-the-scenes work is a calculated insurance policy. The plan is to step in — or pull strings to weaken candidates who don’t align with Trump’s agenda. In that sense, allies say, every conference, every media push, every endorsement is part of a quiet strategy to “kneecap” rivals before the next GOP primary season.
Critics argue Bannon’s maneuvers are less about policy and more about consolidating influence — a long game aimed at dominating the party he helped reshape. Supporters, meanwhile, see him as safeguarding the movement he built, ensuring it doesn’t drift toward establishment moderation.
Whether Bannon ultimately enters the race himself or operates as a kingmaker, he intends to shape the 2028 GOP landscape, and Vance — along with other potential candidates — may be the first to feel the impact.
