Bottom Line Up Front
Steve Bannon calls out America’s new "aristocracy” on Thrusdeay’s WarRoom program. He argues that elites—Hollywood, media, and government officials—treat average citizens’ own tax dollars as gifts they generously sprinkle back. This mindset, he says, resembles the entitlement and detachment of the French aristocracy, oblivious to the frustrations of the American working class.
"Sprinkling Your Own Money Back”: A Populist Rallying Cry
Bannon spoke passionately on Thursday about what he sees as a new American ruling class. He accused them of behaving much like the French aristocrats before the Revolution. "You sprinkle out benefits like the French aristocracy,” he declared, addressing those he believes have turned America’s wealth back on its citizens as mere breadcrumbs. This rhetoric resonates strongly with many populist Trump supporters who feel they are the ones bearing the brunt of elite decisions while getting little back.
Bannon’s reference to sprinkling wealth isn’t random; it’s a critique of how elites, according to him, mishandle American wealth and use it to maintain their own power. Taxpayers fund various programs and initiatives, but rather than helping everyday people, Bannon argues the benefits go to politically favored corporations or elite-supported causes, leaving the average citizen feeling patronized by elites who see their own money as charity.
Resources for this article: The Three Estates of Pre-Revolutionary France
A Rising Divide: The People vs. the Elite
Bannon points to a widening divide between America’s elites and its working class, saying that populist anger is a natural response to decades of neglect. He calls out both politicians and media figures for shaping policies that help "the credentialed class” at the expense of average Americans.
For Bannon, this divide explains why people are rallying around Trump, whom they see as a defender of working-class interests. "This guy named Trump,” Bannon says, "comes across to us as a warrior…a gladiator.” Trump’s appeal to these voters lies in his direct style and his attacks on an establishment many feel has failed them.
"America is a Country, Not Just an Idea”
While some politicians speak about "America as an idea,” Bannon argues it’s far more than that. "America is a country,” he insists, with real borders, land, and people. To Bannon, the elites who romanticize "America as an idea” are those who are detached from the lived realities of American citizens. They sit comfortably behind policies that might sound appealing in theory but fail to protect the values and financial security of working families. This rhetoric aligns with traditional conservative values of national sovereignty, but it’s Bannon’s populist tone that stirs Trump’s base to defend their country against what they see as a self-serving elite class.
Elites, Media, and "Court Jesters”
Bannon is not shy about critiquing media personalities. He refers to MSNBC’s Alex Wagner and others as "court jesters” for elite interests. In his view, mainstream media are not independent voices but tools used by the elite to maintain control over the narrative. "You’ve dedicated your life to the enslavement of your fellow citizens,” Bannon claims, pointing to what he sees as media’s complicity in shaping public opinion against populist movements. His aim is to inspire Americans to question media narratives and seek alternative voices that align more closely with their own experiences and values.
From Grassroots to National Movement: A Populist Call to Action
Bannon’s message isn’t just an attack on the elite—it’s a rallying cry for ordinary Americans to stand up for their communities. He frequently mentions the resilience of the working class, from Black and Hispanic families to white working-class Americans, all of whom he believes are tired of elite manipulation. They are, he says, united in their frustration and "give you the middle finger” for the policies that have ignored their interests.
This message resonates across demographics because it speaks to a common frustration: the belief that elites control the resources, dictate the rules, and then hand back only what they see fit.
"The New American Revolution”
In Bannon’s eyes, the growing support for Trump and populism is more than just a political trend—it’s a movement to reclaim the country from this "new aristocracy.” He sees the working-class pushback as "the beginning of the American Revolution,” aimed at restoring control over what, in his view, should rightfully belong to the American people.
Bannon’s call for change challenges people across the political spectrum to re-evaluate where their taxes go and who truly benefits from them. For supporters of Trump’s populist message, it’s a reminder that every American deserves to have a voice, not just the elites sprinkling back the wealth.
For more context to Bannon’s Thursday comments, watch:
