The Resistance Awaits: Steve Bannon and Rob Bluey Discuss Trump’s Looming Challenges

Steve Bannon and Rob Bluey, editor of The Daily Signal, delved into the imminent challenges awaiting President Trump in his second term during an edgy and fast-paced conversation. With Trump set to take office next week, the discussion exposed a web of resistance within the federal bureaucracy and detailed the critical steps needed to push forward his agenda.

Here is a short clip of that discussion:

Rob Bluey: Nearly Half Of Federal Employees In The Swamp Plan To Resist Trump @RobertBluey pic.twitter.com/fVILdv7LVU

— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) January 13, 2025

A Government Divided

Bluey started by sounding the alarm about entrenched resistance. "Nearly half of federal government managers are planning to resist Trump at every turn,” he revealed, citing a Daily Signal poll. This entrenched opposition isn’t new, he explained. "This happened in 2017, and it’s happening again. Two-thirds of federal employees who voted for Kamala Harris said they’d outright ignore Trump’s directives.”

Bannon likened the situation to a battlefield. "Trump’s walking into Saigon, 1966. The enemy is embedded everywhere. You don’t know who they are but know they’re there.”

Executive Orders and Urgency

Bannon highlighted Trump’s strategy to hit the ground running. "There’ll be 25 to 50 executive orders on day one,” he predicted. "They’ll address immigration, trade, and border security,” Bluey emphasized the importance of having the right people to execute these orders. "Trump needs his team ready. Democrats ensured Biden had everyone on day one. Republicans need the same urgency.”

But Bluey expressed skepticism about Senate Republicans’ resolve. "Some Republicans are acting like a circular firing squad, targeting their own. It’s frustrating. Trump needs his cabinet confirmed without delay.”

The Deep State and Administrative Resistance

The conversation turned to the broader structural challenge: the administrative state. "This is decades in the making,” Bluey said. "Democrats have done a better job embedding their people in government agencies. They stay after elections to advance their agenda. Republicans leave when their presidents do.”

Bluey was blunt about the stakes. "Trump is the chief executive, commander-in-chief, and chief law enforcement officer. If his directives are ignored, what’s the point? The good news is, our poll shows 54% of Americans support Trump firing those who don’t comply.”

Calls to Action

Bannon pressed Bluey for solutions. "What can we do to speed this up?” Bluey suggested relentless pressure on Senate Republicans. "People need to flood the zone, demand urgency. Trump has an 18-month window to achieve his goals. After that, Democrats will gear up for the next election.”