Steve Bannon Issues MAGA Battle Cry: 'Victory or Death'

While appearing at Turning Point Action's (TPA) convention on Saturday, conservative media personality Steve Bannon issued a Make America Great Again (MAGA) battle cry to a cheering audience when he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, it's very simple: Victory or Death!"

The Context

Bannon, who served as the White House chief strategist under the Trump administration, was one of dozens of MAGA and Trump supporters to speak at the three-day convention in Detroit.

In his nearly 10-minute speech, Bannon outlined what America would look like if former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican 2024 presidential nominee, is reelected, including the release of prisoners serving time for the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, issuing tax cuts and "securing the border," among other topics.

"He wants peace, and only a strong man can give us peace. Only a leader can give us peace," Bannon told the crowd. He then jabbed President Joe Biden by adding, "We've seen what a feckless hapless old man can do."

What We Know

Trump, who turned 78 on Friday, is facing Biden, 81, in the 2024 presidential election where age has been a significant topic of debate.

During his Saturday speech, the War Room podcast host attacked the Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) and said, "We're going to take apart the FBI. The FBI, the American Gestapo...There's not going to be any FBI."

Bannon has warned of similar sentiments on his show, saying that former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe "should be worried" about being targeted by Trump officials, if the former president is elected to a second term. Bannon has also repeatedly suggested federal agencies be "purged." According to USA Today, Bannon believes the FBI should be investigated regarding its probe into Trump's alleged collusion with Russia in the 2016 election.

Russia has denied allegations of election inference and Trump has called the Mueller report a "complete and total exoneration" after the "investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities."

Ending his speech, Bannon issued a rally call, asking the audience, "Are you prepared to fight? Are you prepared to give it all? Are you prepared to leave it all on the battlefield? I can't hear you and they can't hear you!" People cheered, clapped, and shouted in support before beginning a "USA USA USA" chant.

Bannon concluded his speech and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, it's very simple: Victory or Death!"

In a text message to Newsweek on Saturday afternoon, Bannon clarified that the comment was meant "metaphorically," and wrote, "It's Victory or Death," and in another text message, "End of the Republic."

What's Next?

Trump is meeting with voters in Detroit today and is expected to speak at the TPA convention this evening at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, Bannon has been ordered to report to prison by July 1 after being convicted of contempt of Congress in 2022 due to failing to comply with a subpoena in the investigation of the Capitol riot. The case was investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office. He was sentenced to four months.

Updated 6/15/24 at 6:26 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.