Steve Bannon has predicted that Donald Trump "is going to prison" unless "we" win the 2028 presidential election.
Trump's former White House chief strategist made this statement on Thursday during an episode of his War Room podcast.
Newsweek attempted to contact Bannon for comment via an email sent to War Room on Friday outside regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Trump is the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. If he is imprisoned after completing his second term, it would mark an unprecedented moment in American political history, likely sparking fierce opposition from his supporters.
Key Points
Speaking on his War Room podcast, Bannon stated: "God forbid we don't win in 2028, President Trump is going to prison just like Bolsonaro in Brazil."
In February, Brazil’s chief prosecutor charged former President Jair Bolsonaro with five counts, including attempting to stage a coup after his defeat to Lula da Silva in the 2022 presidential election. This week, a Brazilian Supreme Court panel unanimously ruled that Bolsonaro’s case should proceed to trial. Bolsonaro denies any wrongdoing.
Bolsonaro had close ties with Trump and was frequently referred to as the "Trump of the Tropics" by media outlets.
Bannon also predicted Trump could face a third impeachment attempt if Republicans lose control of the House in the 2028 midterm elections. Trump was previously acquitted in two impeachment trials—one in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and another in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the January 6 Capitol riot.
Trump was awaiting sentencing after being convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in May 2024 when he won his second presidential election in November 2024.
The president has also faced charges related to mishandling classified documents and alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election, both nationwide and specifically in Georgia. He has denied wrongdoing in all cases.
After Trump’s 2024 election victory, Special Counsel Jack Smith dropped the federal cases concerning classified documents and election interference, while the Georgia case was postponed until after his presidency. In the falsifying business records case, Trump received an unconditional discharge, avoiding fines or jail time.
Bannon has previously argued that Trump should run for a third term in 2028, despite the 22nd Amendment limiting presidents to two terms. His interpretation—that the amendment only restricts consecutive terms—is not widely accepted by constitutional scholars.
Following his inauguration on January 20, Trump pardoned nearly all individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress, though some only had their sentences commuted and were released from prison.
Statements from Bannon
Steve Bannon said: "We are kidding ourselves if we don’t think Democrats are pulling out all the stops to stop President Trump, to take the House through any means necessary, to impeach Trump, start the impeachment process in the first weeks of 2027. And God forbid we don't win in 2028, President Trump is going to prison just like Bolsonaro in Brazil."
"People are sitting around still with the glow of November 4 and all the inauguration and all the balls—we're at war. And if you don’t understand that what’s happened over the past 72 hours is political warfare, you’re not awake."
What Comes Next
The 2026 midterm elections will be the first significant electoral test for Trump's second administration and could provide an indication of the Republican Party's and Democratic Party’s standing ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
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