In a fiery, no-holds-barred commentary on Wednesday’s WarRoom, Steve Bannon doubled down on his critique of the U.S. political system, arguing that it is broken beyond repair and actively working against the American people. Speaking with a clear sense of urgency, Bannon laid out his vision for a sweeping overhaul of the government, calling for a full-scale reform of institutions that he believes have grown corrupt, out of touch, and hostile to ordinary citizens—especially the working and middle classes.
Bannon, a key strategist behind Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and a staunch advocate for the populist-nationalist movement believes that the "system” in place today has lost its legitimacy and must be radically transformed. According to him, those who defend the status quo, like Washington elites and institutionalists, are not merely misguided—they’re enemies of progress.
"The system’s not working. It’s not working for the people,” Bannon declared. "It’s destructive, particularly for the working class and the middle class—the very people who are the backbone of this country. The so-called ‘system defenders’ are clinging to institutions that need to be reformed, purged, and renewed. These institutions are not only broken, they’re working against us.”
He pointed out that capitalist societies thrive on what’s called "creative destruction”—a process by which outdated structures and systems are dismantled in favor of new, more effective ones. For Bannon, this idea of creative destruction is crucial in understanding why the U.S. must undergo a fundamental shift in how its government operates. The time for tinkering with the system, he argues, is long past. The system needs to be re-engineered from the ground up.
Bannon also addressed the theory of the "unitary executive,” which refers to the idea that the president, as the chief executive, should have broad and unchecked authority within the executive branch. He’s long been an outspoken critic of the deep state, and he used his own legal battles as a backdrop for his argument.
"I went to prison for four months over this issue,” Bannon reminded his audience. "And I’ll serve another four months if I have to. It’s about the power of the executive and the right of the president to assert executive privilege. No unelected bureaucrat or deep state operative should be able to check the authority of the executive branch.”
For Bannon, the constitutional roles of the president are clear. The president is the chief executive, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the chief law enforcement officer. But in the post-Watergate era, much of that power has been siphoned off to the Justice Department, which Bannon believes has been corrupted.
"This is why you’ve got a thousand patriots in prison right now because of January 6th. This is why you’ve got a corrupt DOJ and a corrupt judiciary,” Bannon said, referring to the fallout from the 2021 Capitol riot. "The people who are supposed to enforce the law are the ones breaking it. They’re working to destroy the movement, to destroy the populist-nationalist revolution.”
In a moment of intense frustration, Bannon called for a mass firing of U.S. attorneys, specifically targeting the DOJ’s leadership, such as Damien Williams in the Southern District of New York. He argued that these officials, many of whom have been vocal critics of Trump, are part of a system that actively opposes his vision of the presidency and the government.
"If Trump is elected, every U.S. attorney needs to go,” Bannon said. "They should be out by the afternoon of January 20th. And if they don’t resign, they need to be pushed out the door. This is about reclaiming control.”
Bannon’s comments also took aim at political figures like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, whom he accuses of blocking the movement for reform. McConnell, he argues, is a protector of the establishment and a key part of the resistance to Trump’s populist agenda.
"McConnell and the other institutionalists are part of the problem,” Bannon said. "They’re hiding behind the institutions they protect. They’re part of the reason why we can’t move forward.”
Ultimately, Bannon emphasized that unless populist forces seize control of the government’s institutions—particularly the DOJ, the military, and intelligence agencies—there can be no meaningful reform. He believes that only by taking the reins of power can the government be reshaped to serve the people, rather than the elite interests that have dominated Washington for decades.
"We must seize the institutions,” Bannon concluded. "If we don’t, we can’t reform them. And if we don’t reform them, we’ll never deconstruct the administrative state that’s been built against us. The time to act is now.”
For Bannon, this is not just about policy change—it’s about a cultural revolution. And according to him, if Trump wins in 2024, the fight to reclaim control of the government is only just beginning.
For more on Bannon’s use of “Creative Destruction”:
Steve Bannon: ‘Populist Revolt, Creative Destruction, and the Fight for Liberty’
Steve Bannon’s Call to Seize Power: America First Must Act Now
For more context watch this full WarRoom segment:
