Devil's Bargain

1. The Unlikely Alliance: Trump and Bannon's Devil's Bargain

Trump sold this brand of nationalism with the same all-out conviction he brought to selling his own name.

A marriage of convenience. The partnership between Donald Trump and Steve Bannon was an unlikely one, born out of mutual opportunism rather than shared ideology. Bannon, a hard-right nationalist, saw Trump as a vehicle to advance his political agenda, while Trump recognized Bannon's ability to tap into the anxieties of the American electorate.

Bannon's Plan. Bannon believed that his brand of hard-right nationalist politics could carry the right person to the White House, at which point the powers of the presidency would be marshaled to faithfully enact it.

Trump's Motivation. Trump, for his part, seemed to recognize that Bannon alone could focus and channel his uncanny political intuition with striking success. Together, their power and reach gave them strength and influence far beyond what either could have achieved on his own.

2. Bannon's Anti-Clinton Obsession: A Career Defined

For years, Bannon had been searching for a vessel for his populist-nationalist ideas, trying out and eventually discarding Tea Party politicians such as Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann.

A singular focus. Bannon's career was largely defined by his obsession with taking down Bill and Hillary Clinton. He saw them as the embodiment of a corrupt establishment that needed to be dismantled. This obsession fueled his work at Breitbart News and the Government Accountability Institute (GAI).

Building a machine. Bannon built an elaborate machine designed to destroy the great enemy whose march to the White House posed the biggest threat to those ideas and to everyone whose beliefs hewed to the right of center: Hillary Clinton.

A vast right-wing conspiracy. By the time she launched her 2016 campaign, Bannon was sitting at the nexus of a far-flung group of conspirators whose scope and reach Clinton and her campaign didn’t fathom until far too late.

3. From Navy to Breitbart: Bannon's Ideological Formation

My political views were formed by seeing how a weak leader like that could get America into the middle of a Middle East debacle.

Early influences. Bannon's worldview was shaped by his traditional Catholic upbringing, his military service, and his experiences on Wall Street and in Hollywood. He developed a deep distrust of elites and a belief in the importance of defending Western civilization.

Key moments:

• The Iranian hostage crisis solidified his anti-establishment views.
• His time in the Navy instilled a sense of duty and camaraderie.
• His Wall Street experience soured him on the financial industry.

Breitbart's influence. Bannon's time at Breitbart News further radicalized his views and provided him with a platform to promote his populist-nationalist agenda. He saw the site as a tool to fight against political correctness and the excesses of the left.

4. Trump's Calculated Racism: Sacrificing Minority Appeal for Power

The lesson Trump took away was that the party gatekeepers, who were privately appalled at his behavior and did not want him in the race, would pose no threat to him at all if he decided to run.

A deliberate strategy. Trump's decision to embrace racist rhetoric, particularly his attacks on Barack Obama's citizenship, was a calculated move to appeal to a specific segment of the Republican base. He was willing to sacrifice his appeal to minority voters in order to gain power.

The birther attacks. Trump's birther attacks on Obama were a turning point, signaling his willingness to embrace racist conspiracy theories in order to gain political advantage.

The trade-off. Trump's decision to embrace divisive rhetoric alienated minority voters but solidified his support among a core group of white, working-class voters who felt ignored by the political establishment.

5. The Breitbart Doctrine: Weaponizing Outrage and Conspiracy

To be effective, he believed, a conservative effort to thwart Clinton would need to be based on facts, not punditry, and reach beyond the conservative bubble to turn liberals and independents against her.

Beyond the echo chamber. Bannon understood that to be effective, a conservative effort to thwart Clinton would need to be based on facts, not punditry, and reach beyond the conservative bubble to turn liberals and independents against her.

Stunt journalism. Breitbart's signature maneuver was the elaborate trolling operation aimed at some liberal icon or institution that exposed the hypocrisy at the heart of its enterprise.

The power of outrage. Bannon recognized the galvanizing power of being the bad guy, publicly despised by those whom you profess to oppose. This fueled Breitbart's combative style and its willingness to push boundaries.

6. The Mercer Millions: Funding the Anti-Clinton Machine

For years, Bannon had been searching for a vessel for his populist-nationalist ideas...

The alt-Kochs. The Mercer family, led by Robert and Rebekah, became key financial backers of Bannon's network of conservative organizations. They were willing to invest heavily in outsider candidates and causes that challenged the Republican establishment.

A different kind of donor. Unlike traditional Republican donors, the Mercers were eccentric and iconoclastic. They were drawn to Bannon's vision and his willingness to challenge the status quo.

Building an infrastructure. The Mercer millions helped Bannon build a far-flung group of conspirators whose scope and reach Clinton and her campaign didn’t fathom until far too late.

7. Clinton Cash: The Blueprint for Political Destruction

What Bannon built was in essence the very thing Clinton herself was mocked for invoking in 1998: a “vast right-wing conspiracy” designed to tear her down.

A fact-based attack. Bannon conceived of Clinton Cash as a way to attack Clinton based on documented facts, rather than unsubstantiated rumors. This made the book more credible and allowed it to reach a wider audience.

Mainstream media partnerships. Bannon partnered with mainstream media outlets to disseminate the findings of Clinton Cash, ensuring that the book's allegations reached a broad audience beyond the conservative bubble.

The power of narrative. Bannon and Schweizer understood the importance of crafting a compelling narrative around the facts, making the book more engaging and impactful.

8. The Alt-Right Ascendant: Bannon's Embrace of the Online Fringe

I realized Milo could connect with these kids right away. You can activate that army. They come in through Gamergate or whatever and then get turned onto politics and Trump.

Harnessing online power. Bannon recognized the potential of online communities, particularly gamers and message-board denizens, to influence politics. He sought to harness their energy and direct it toward his political goals.

Milo Yiannopoulos. Bannon hired Milo Yiannopoulos to connect with the alt-right audience and bring them into the Breitbart fold. Yiannopoulos's provocative style and embrace of controversial topics helped to attract a younger, more engaged audience.

A dangerous alliance. Bannon's embrace of the alt-right legitimized a fringe movement and brought its ideas into the mainstream. This had a significant impact on the 2016 election and continues to shape American politics.

9. The Comey Bombshell: A Twist of Fate or Calculated Interference?

The last few days have proven to be pivotal in the minds of voters with the recent revelations in reopening the investigation of Secretary Clinton.

A game-changing event. James Comey's decision to reopen the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails just days before the election had a significant impact on the race. It reminded voters of Clinton's ethical shortcomings and gave Trump a much-needed boost.

The double-haters. The Comey letter convinced many "double-haters," voters who disliked both candidates, to finally choose Trump or stay home, swinging the election in his favor.

A stroke of luck? Whether Comey's actions were politically motivated or simply a matter of following procedure, they had a profound impact on the outcome of the election, helping to propel Trump to victory.

10. The Limits of Trumpism: Governing as an Outsider

He’s like an organism that could have grown and blossomed only under a precise and exacting set of conditions—a black orchid.

Governing is different. Trump's success as a candidate did not translate into success as president. His lack of experience, his domineering style, and his inability to work with others hindered his ability to govern effectively.

Abandoning populism. Trump's decision to embrace the Republican establishment's agenda, particularly tax cuts for the wealthy, alienated many of his working-class supporters and undermined his populist message.

The power of ego. Trump's ego and his need for constant validation often led him to make decisions that were detrimental to his own agenda. His firing of Comey, for example, was driven by personal pique rather than strategic calculation.

Last updated: April 8, 2025