If you thought Steve Bannon was going to play it safe after his stint in federal prison, you haven't been paying attention. At the CPAC 2025 gathering in National Harbor, Maryland, the "War Room" host didn't just show up; he basically set the room on fire. It was vintage Bannon—aggressive, loud, and focused on a future that looks a lot like the past, specifically 2028.
Honestly, the energy at the Gaylord National Resort was less like a political conference and more like a revival tent. Bannon took the stage on February 20, 2025, following a massive introduction that treated him like a returning war hero. He didn't waste time with pleasantries. He dove straight into the meat of his "populist nationalist" agenda, telling the crowd that the "hardest, toughest days are ahead."
But it wasn't just the rhetoric that made headlines. It was a single gesture at the end of his speech that almost broke the internet.
That Controversial Salute and the French Fallout
You've probably seen the clip by now. After shouting "Fight! Fight! Fight!"—a direct callback to Donald Trump’s reaction after the Butler assassination attempt—Bannon threw his right arm out. It was a straight-arm, palm-down gesture. To many observers, it looked exactly like a Nazi salute. To Bannon, it was just "a wave like I did all the time."
The fallout was immediate. Jordan Bardella, the president of France’s National Rally, was supposed to speak the next day. He canceled. He called the gesture an "allusion to Nazi ideology" and said he couldn't be associated with it. Bannon, never one to back down, called Bardella "a boy, not a man" and said he was "unworthy to lead France."
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The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) jumped in too, saying they were concerned about the "normalization of this behavior." It created a weird rift in the global right. On one side, you had European populists trying to look "respectable" for mainstream voters, and on the other, you had Bannon, who basically told them to grow a spine or get out of the way.
Why the "Trump in '28" Talk Matters
While the media focused on the arm gesture, the actual content of the speech was arguably more significant for the next few years of American politics. Bannon wasn't just talking about the current administration. He was looking at the horizon.
- The 2028 Election: Bannon explicitly called for "Trump in '28." This is a huge deal because, you know, the Constitution has that whole 22nd Amendment thing.
- The "Deep State" War: He described the movement as being "at war" with the administrative state. He wasn't speaking metaphorically.
- Global Coalitions: He mentioned leaders like Bolsonaro and South Korea's Yoon Suk-yeol, framing them as fellow soldiers in a global fight against "globalists."
It’s easy to dismiss this as red meat for the base, but Bannon is the architect of the strategy. When he says "MAGA will govern for 50 years," he’s signaling a plan to dismantle the traditional civil service and replace it with loyalists. This isn't just a podcast talking point; it's the blueprint for what he calls "deconstructing the administrative state."
The JD Vance Factor
Interestingly, Bannon came in second in the CPAC straw poll. Who beat him? Vice President JD Vance. Vance took 61% of the vote, while Bannon pulled in 12%. This tells you two things. First, the crowd is firmly behind the sitting administration. Second, Bannon remains the most influential "outsider" in the movement.
He spoke right after Elon Musk, a man who has largely replaced Bannon as the primary "disruptor" in Trump's inner circle. There’s some tension there. Bannon and Musk aren't exactly on great terms, yet they shared the same stage to push a similar message of radical institutional change.
Actionable Insights: What to Watch Next
If you're trying to figure out where the MAGA movement goes from here, don't look at the policy papers. Look at the personnel.
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Watch the primary challenges. Bannon's focus is on purging what he calls "RINOs" (Republicans In Name Only) from the party. If you see a surge in insurgent candidates for the 2026 midterms, that's Bannon's handiwork.
Monitor the legal battles. Bannon is obsessed with changing the laws that allow for the prosecution of political figures. He explicitly mentioned this at CPAC. Keep an eye on any legislative attempts to grant broader immunity or to restructure the Department of Justice.
Follow the "War Room" metrics. His podcast is still the "velvet touch" of the movement. When Bannon pivots to a new target—whether it's a specific cabinet member or a foreign leader—the rest of the MAGA media ecosystem usually follows within 48 hours.
The main takeaway from CPAC 2025 is that Steve Bannon isn't going anywhere. He’s leaning into the controversy, using the "salute" drama to further polarize his audience and weed out those he deems "too soft" for the upcoming fights. Whether you think he’s a patriot or a provocateur, his influence on the Republican path toward 2028 is undeniable.
To stay ahead of these political shifts, track the appointment of "Schedule F" employees in the federal government. This is the mechanism Bannon frequently discusses for replacing career bureaucrats with political appointees. Also, keep an eye on the "International Summit" developments, as Bannon continues to build a transnational network of nationalist parties across Europe and South America.