On Friday, tensions between Elon Musk and Steve Bannon flared up again as the two continued their longstanding feud, trading accusations and warnings about potential legal repercussions.
Bannon’s Criticism of Musk’s Political Plans
Steve Bannon, a MAGA podcaster and former Trump campaign strategist, launched an attack on Musk during an episode of his “War Room” podcast.
He criticized Musk’s plans to start a new political party, the America Party, by suggesting that Musk, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Africa, shouldn’t be leading an American political movement.
“A non-American starting an America Party?” Bannon said. “No, brother, you’re not an American, you’re a South African. And if we take enough time and prove the facts of that, you should be deported because of the crime of which you did, among many.” He further insinuated that Musk may be in the U.S. illegally, continuing his remarks from the previous month.
Musk’s Retaliation
Musk quickly responded on X (formerly known as Twitter), accusing Bannon of criminal behavior and predicting more legal troubles for him. Musk called Bannon a “fat, drunken slob” and predicted, “He will go back to prison and this time for a long time.
He has a lifetime of crime to pay for.” While Musk didn’t specify what criminal activity he believed would send Bannon back to prison, his comments seemed to signal ongoing animosity.
Musk’s Political Involvement and Spending
Musk’s entry into politics has been significant, with him reportedly spending $291 million in the 2024 election cycle, particularly to support Donald Trump.
However, Musk had a falling out with Trump over a piece of legislation known as the “big beautiful bill”. After it passed, Musk said he would form his own party as a third option to both Republicans and Democrats.
Bannon’s Background and Legal Issues
Steve Bannon has had a long and controversial political career. He was a key figure in Trump’s 2016 campaign, serving as its chief executive before taking on a role as chief strategist in Trump’s administration.
However, Bannon’s time in the administration was short-lived, as he was removed after just seven months. Despite tensions between the two, Trump and Bannon reconciled, with Bannon remaining a loyal supporter of Trump and his MAGA agenda.
Bannon also faced significant legal challenges. In 2021, Trump granted him a pardon for his involvement in a fraud case, in which Bannon and others allegedly misused donations for a private fund to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Earlier this year, Bannon pleaded guilty to state charges in connection with the case, reaching a deal that allowed him to avoid prison time.
Musk’s Warnings for Bannon
While Bannon has faced legal hurdles in the past, Musk’s comments suggest that more trouble could be on the horizon for him. Musk seems to be hinting that Bannon’s legal issues are far from over, adding another layer of drama to their ongoing clash.