Steve Bannon told Jeffrey Epstein that Donald Trump was “beyond borderline” and should be removed from office via the 25th Amendment, according to newly released text messages from the DOJ’s Epstein files—and now MAGA’s biggest names are turning on one of their own.
The texts, dated December 31, 2018, show Bannon and the convicted child sex predator discussing Trump’s fitness to serve shortly after Democrats won the House. “Going to blow him up right our [sic] of the box– WH has zero plan to punch back– Fort Apache with no cavalry enroute,” Bannon wrote.
“And no soldiers in the fort,” Epstein replied. “He really is borderline. Not sure what he may do.”
Bannon’s response: “I think it’s beyond borderline — 25 amendment.”
The 25th Amendment, of course, allows a president to be removed if they’re declared unable to carry out their duties. Coming from Trump’s former chief strategist—the guy who went to jail rather than testify about January 6—this is an extraordinary admission.
The MAGA reaction has been swift and brutal. Michael Flynn, Trump’s former National Security Adviser, demanded answers on Twitter. “I remember all the 25th Amendment talk back in the first term. It was really ugly,” he wrote. “If Bannon AND Epstein were behind it, Bannon needs to be brought in for questioning.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene, who broke with Trump to push for the Epstein files’ release, piled on. “Steve Bannon went to jail for Trump (I was there), but back on 1-1-19 (after Dems took the House) he was texting with Epstein about 25th amendment,” she wrote. “Also, there is no excuse for having such a friendly relationship with Epstein, post conviction, 2018-19. None.”
The texts are part of more than 3.5 million documents released by the Department of Justice into Epstein’s crimes and networks. Other documents show Bannon advising the pedophile on which lawyers to hire and how to manage media coverage of the allegations against him. One message even suggested Bannon wanted to “take out” Pope Francis.
Bannon was fired from the White House in 2017 after becoming increasingly isolated, but he’s since positioned himself as one of Trump’s most loyal defenders. He hosts the WarRoom podcast, went to prison for contempt of Congress, and has been pushing the idea that Trump could run for a third term despite constitutional limits.
The Daily Beast says they’ve reached out to Bannon for comment on the texts. As of publication, he hadn’t responded.