Far-right podcast host Steve Bannon used his War Room podcast to warn about serious challenges in the U.S. Senate that could block President-elect Donald Trump’s most important appointments.
Bannon claimed that Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader and a Republican from Kentucky, is the main roadblock preventing Trump from getting his choices approved. These include former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (R-HI), former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Bannon pointed to what he called McConnell’s earlier success in stopping former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) from becoming attorney general. He explained that McConnell’s actions set an example for how he might fight against Trump’s future picks. “What happened with Matt Gaetz should be a warning sign for all of us,” Bannon said. “McConnell already defeated us on this once—do you think he’s done? Not a chance.”
Bannon described the Senate struggle as a full-blown “war” and said it is the biggest problem Trump and his supporters are facing. “The United States Senate is the main thing standing in our way,” Bannon said. “It’s the one place where we haven’t been able to win yet, and it’s because of Mitch McConnell.”
He expressed particular concern about McConnell targeting Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for speaking out against the pharmaceutical industry. “Kennedy is a huge threat to the biopharmaceutical companies, and McConnell is deeply tied to them,” Bannon claimed. “They’ll do whatever they can to take Kennedy down because they know he’s relentless and will fight them head-on.”
Reflecting on Matt Gaetz’s failed nomination, Bannon said it was a clear sign of what’s to come. He explained that Gaetz had agreed not to pursue cases against MSNBC or former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY) if he became attorney general, which Bannon viewed as a missed opportunity for aggressive action. “Gaetz was ready to completely shake up the Department of Justice,” Bannon said. “But now he’s been replaced with Pam Bondi, who doesn’t have the same fire. She’s not going to fight as hard.”
Bannon warned that McConnell’s success in blocking Gaetz could repeat itself with Kennedy and others. “This was a huge win for McConnell, and we’re about to see the same fight play out over the biopharmaceutical industry. Just wait and see,” he said.
Bannon’s comments reveal growing tensions between Trump’s allies and more traditional Republicans like McConnell. As Trump prepares to reshape his administration, McConnell’s continued influence in the Senate could lead to major battles over Trump’s key nominations, potentially shaping the early days of his presidency. Bannon’s warning is clear: the fight for Trump’s vision is far from over, and the Senate will be the battleground.
