Steve Bannon intrigues and worries on the international far-right scene. A former naval officer, banker, and mastermind of global populism, he fascinates as much as he shocks. Today, this architect of nationalist strategies close to Donald Trump prompts caution from Jordan Bardella. The young leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) is concerned about his image. Moreover, he wants to avoid any association with a controversial figure. Let’s explore the origins of Bannon’s influence and the reasons that drive Bardella to keep his distance, in a context where identity and sovereigntist themes increasingly mark public debate.
The roots of a controversial influence
Steve Bannon‘s education is first rooted in military discipline. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1976 to 1983. During this period, he mingled with influential officers. Additionally, he built a network that would be valuable for his political career. However, finance then attracted his ambition: he attended the prestigious Harvard Business School, then joined the Goldman Sachs bank. His foray into the Wall Street establishment broadened his perspectives and fueled his appetite for power. Yet, he gradually distanced himself to turn towards a radical right. Indeed, he preferred to wield nationalist ideas rather than numbers.
Bannon then explored the entertainment industry in the 1990s. Thus, he produced several documentaries, often imbued with militant conservatism. Moreover, he co-founded the Government Accountability Institute, a think tank supposed to fight political corruption. However, his methods are frequently questioned: some see it as an instrumentalization of information in the service of a populist agenda. These steps forge the reputation of an ambitious man, ready to use bold media strategies to spread his ideas.
The key role in the Trump campaign
Donald Trump‘s 2016 presidential campaign catapulted Bannon to the forefront. Thus, he was appointed CEO of this electoral venture. At the same time, traditional Republican strategists struggled to channel the candidate’s populist discourse. His divisive messages appealed to a large segment of the electorate, tired of an elite deemed distant. Indeed, they focused on defending the American identity and denouncing immigration. Meanwhile, these messages aroused hostility from many media outlets. They accused him of promoting extreme theses.
Bannon left a strong mark on the campaign with slogans like "Make America Great Again". Thus, he drew international attention to the rise of populism and inspired other nationalist movements around the world, from the AfD in Germany to Matteo Salvini‘s League in Italy. However, his sometimes xenophobic discourse and attacks on the traditional press earned him a controversial reputation. His influence quickly transcended American borders and drew attention to the European scene. Moreover, it sparked the interest of identity movements.
Breitbart News and the rise of digital far-right
Steve Bannon‘s reputation is also fueled by his role at the helm of Breitbart News, an ultraconservative news site that became a reference in the alt-right. Thus, Breitbart transformed into a hub of numerous controversies, fueling the polarization of public debate. Critics accuse it of spreading false information and resorting to a strategy of provocation. Furthermore, this strategy aims to maximize the site’s visibility.
This platform gained a considerable audience, becoming a major tool in spreading Bannon’s populist ideology. Moreover, Breitbart gives a voice to figures of the American far-right. Thus, it accelerates the popularity of nationalist and identity themes. The rise of this digital media is often described as "the voice of the alt-right". Thus, it contributes to legitimizing a more radical discourse in the public space. Furthermore, this online expansion facilitates the creation of bridges with sovereigntist parties in Europe.
Links with the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and the global far-right
Bannon is a regular at the CPAC, a major event for the American right. Moreover, he regularly invites controversial figures, thus expanding his international network. During his last appearance, he was accused of making a "Nazi salute". This gesture is deemed outrageous and symptomatic of an assumed extremism.
This provocation reflects Bannon’s strategy: to occupy the media space through scandal. Thus, he attracts attention, even at the cost of controversies that flirt with terrifying historical references. His ambition goes beyond the United States, as he collaborates with populist and nationalist parties in Europe. Additionally, he also associates in Latin America and Asia. This fuels the idea of an international of the radical right. Sometimes compared to a mastermind of Brexit or Viktor Orbán‘s politics in Hungary, Bannon continues to weave his web to influence the global debate. Some see it as an instrumentalization of information in the service of a populist agenda. These steps forge the reputation of an ambitious man, ready to use bold media strategies to spread his ideas.
Jordan Bardella: a calculated distancing
The young president of the Rassemblement National (RN), Jordan Bardella, intended to enhance his international image by participating in the CPAC. However, the presence of this 27-year-old Frenchman immediately sparked controversy. Indeed, he comes from a country marked by the Nazi Occupation from 1940 to 1944. Indeed, the national memory remains painful, and Nazi ideology remains a major taboo in France.
Bardella wants to be a patriot, valuing French sovereignty and seeking to modernize a party long led by Marine Le Pen and founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen. Thus, he strives to gradually erase traces inherited from the most virulent far-right. Yet, his appearance alongside figures like Bannon shakes this "dedemonization" strategy: some see it as a sign of complacency with theses deemed dangerous.
Faced with the uproar caused by Bannon’s controversial gesture, Bardella refrained from taking the podium. Thus, he strives to avoid amalgamation with an extremist movement. This movement is likely to awaken the traumas of World War II. For the RN, the challenge is to preserve the line of conduct adopted under Marine Le Pen‘s presidency. She seeks to legitimize the party on the French and European political scene. Notably during events like the European elections.
Shadows around Steve Bannon
Financial affairs also tarnish Bannon’s image. Thus, he is accused of embezzling funds in the "We Build the Wall" campaign, supposed to finance the construction of an anti-immigration barrier at the Mexican border. His arrest on a yacht, followed by his indictment for fraud, scandalized public opinion in 2020. Although he received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, his integrity remains questioned.
Other suspicions concern his network of influence in Europe, where he would multiply contacts with Eurosceptic parties, such as Matteo Salvini‘s League in Italy or the AfD in Germany. This opacity fuels mistrust towards him, especially since Bannon defends himself by presenting himself as a mere defender of "national sovereignty". His supposed involvement in spreading fake news adds an additional dimension to the criticisms. These target his role in the rise of populism.
The art of political communication according to Bardella
Jordan Bardella focuses on modern political marketing. He extensively uses social networks to reach a young audience. Moreover, he addresses their daily concerns, such as security, employment, and national identity. Thus, he promotes an uncomplexed patriotism. However, he strives to distance himself from any legacy deemed too close to the historical far-right.
The memory of the Nazi Occupation, deeply rooted in the French collective consciousness, remains a thorny subject for the RN. Many opponents invoke the imperative to guard against any ideological drift, recalling the country’s tumultuous history. Moreover, the posture of "assumed patriot" is sometimes seen as a nationalist retreat. Indeed, it fears the reactivation of old demons linked to xenophobia and rejection of the other.
Bardella thus navigates between the need to appeal to a traditional RN electorate and his aspiration to conquer a broader audience. Thus, he must constantly monitor his image to not break the balance between defending borders. Indeed, this defense is dear to his militant base. Moreover, he refuses any alignment with neo-Nazi movements.
A controversial epilogue
Steve Bannon’s journey highlights the rise of a populist and nationalist current. Indeed, this phenomenon is observed on the international scene. Thus, his public appearances are often punctuated by media controversies. This favors the spread of extreme ideas to the detriment of a calm political debate. The man, once an influential advisor to Donald Trump, remains at the heart of a global network. In this network, ultraconservative figures, sovereigntist parties, and Eurosceptic movements intersect.
On his side, Jordan Bardella embodies the young generation of the Rassemblement National. This party is seeking respectability in a France still marked by History. However, the line remains thin between normalization and allegiance to a more radical vote. The latter is quick to revisit sovereigntist slogans. The recent events at the CPAC testify to these contradictions: a controversial gesture by Bannon is enough to revive the ghosts of the Nazi Occupation.
