Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon with a dark red background

Molly Butler / Media Matters

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After the Epstein file drop, Steve Bannon is facing stronger backlash from MAGA media figures, far-right online personalities, and his own audience

Written by Sophie Lawton

Research contributions from John Knefel

Published

In early February, the Department of Justice released millions of files related to Jeffrey Epstein that included extensive conversations between the late convicted sex offender and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. As the public begins to unpack the vast number of files, Bannon is coming under fire from the MAGA right for his yearslong relationship and participation in Epstein’s attempted image rehabilitation.

The newly published messages between the two men have sparked backlash from some of Bannon’s closest allies, including former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn and former GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, and fueled further criticism from longtime adversaries like Roger Stone. In posts on social media, Flynn and Greene both expressed their disappointment in Bannon for reportedly discussing with Epstein the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment during Donald Trump's first term. Greene added, “There is no excuse for having such a friendly relationship with Epstein, post conviction, 2018-19. None.”

After the first drop of Epstein files in November 2025, where Bannon also frequently appeared, conservative podcasters including Ben Shapiro and Megyn Kelly questioned his conversations with Epstein, and some audience members shared their outrage in comments on Bannon’s Rumble videos and on right-wing social media site Gettr.

Now, Bannon is facing stronger backlash from MAGA media figures, far-right online personalities, and his own audience, with many calling on him to address his relationship with Epstein.

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  • Right-wing media figures criticized Bannon’s relationship with Epstein following release of new DOJ file

    • Ben Shapiro published an episode titled “CON INC: Bannon-Epstein Connection EXPLODES” and claimed “Steve Bannon has now been totally exposed in the Epstein files.” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 2/10/26, 2/10/26]
    • MAGA podcaster Benny Johnson told his audience that Bannon's relationship with Epstein is “not a good look.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 2/11/26]
    • On the PBD Podcast, Infowars’ Alex Jones spoke about Bannon being “involved with Epstein” and said, “I'm not defending it. I probably wouldn’t have hung out with Epstein.” [YouTube, PBD Podcast, 2/12/26]
    • Dinesh D’Souza called Bannon “Epstein's PR man” and criticized him for working closely with the convicted sex offender, saying, “Steve Bannon is all over the Epstein files.” [YouTube, Dinesh, 2/16/26]

  • From the February 16, 2026, edition of Dinesh, streamed on YouTube

  • Far-right personalities are also weighing in

    • Former Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio called Bannon’s relationship with Epstein “extremely disturbing” because “somebody that I looked up to is in these files.” After Tarrio detailed Bannon’s efforts to rehabilitate Epstein’s reputation, his co-host stated that “there’s really no excuse to maintain a relationship, whether business, or platonic, or otherwise, with someone that’s been shown to be as evil as Epstein.” [Rumble, Lords of War, 2/10/26; PBS News, 4/25/23]
    • White nationalist podcaster Nick Fuentes: “We should be looking into Steve Bannon. And I like Bannon. I've said it before, I like the guy. I like what he's been saying, but he's named in there an awful lot.” [Rumble, America First, 2/9/26; Media Matters, 12/19/25]
    • Manosphere influencer Amrou Fudl, known as Myron Gaines, claimed “I don’t think a lot of people knew that he [Bannon] was working for Epstein on this level of intimacy.” [Rumble, Myron Gaines, 2/9/26; Media Matters, 8/8/23]
    • White nationalist podcaster Stew Peters called Bannon a “fake populist, fake patriot that looks like he crawled out of a dumpster every time you see him” and said, “This guy was in regular communication with the ultimate pervert, Jeffrey Epstein, which should surprise nobody. The guy looks like a creep.” [The Stew Peters Show, 2/10/26; Media Matters, 3/13/23]
    • David Freiheit, a podcaster known as Viva Frei who has appeared on Bannon’s War Room, said, “Bannon's got some serious questions to answer. He's got some serious realities to face for fraternizing with the known devil.” [Viva & Barnes, 2/16/26; Media Matters, 4/11/23, 9/4/25]
    • Infowars host Breanna Morello: “It looks like Steve Bannon was obviously very friendly with the convicted pedophile. And that's obviously extremely extreme and concerning.” [Infowars, The American Journal, 2/16/26]

  • From the February 16, 2026, edition of Infowars' American Journal

  • Bannon’s audience is asking for a response

    • On Gettr one user tagged Bannon in a post that claimed “we your MAGA faithfuls need to hear from you about all this Epstein stuff.” They added, “I have believed in you and watched for years. I don’t want to feel let down Steve. I’m willing to hear your side. Please?” [Gettr, 2/11/26]
    • In another post tagging Bannon on Gettr, a user who claimed they “absolutely watched you loyally for years” wrote: “When you got people like @LauraLoomer saying you should dedicate a week to explaining your epstien relationship, you should damn sure address it,” adding, “Until you come out and acknowledge and explain, as if your somehow above all this shit... I'm out!” The user also shared that they would not be watching the network that airs Bannon’s War Room, Real America’s Voice, for its complicity in platforming Bannon. [Gettr, 2/12/26] 
  • Gettr post on Bannon and Epstein
    • Another user on Gettr asked Bannon, “Why not one story in the past few days on Epstein? We need answers to your text with this pedo after he was incarcerated!” [Gettr, 2/12/26] 
    • In a comment on an episode of War Room shared on Rumble, one fan asked, “Are you going to address your interview with Epstein?” They added in a reply: “I haven't watched any war room until bannon makes a public statement about this. He needs to explain himself pronto.” [Rumble, 2/10/26] 
    • One Rumble user wrote: “I'm still a fan, but Steve MUST address this Epstein fire. You know that in politics you have to get in front of it. Hiding, stonewalling makes it worse every time.” [Rumble, 2/12/26] 
    • Another “faithful viewer” commented on a later episode: “As little as you might want to address your Epstein connection, Steve, Roger Stone is attacking you mercilessly, so you need to address the situation.” They continued, “I remain a faithful viewer because no one has a better understanding of President Trump's political, military, and monetary policy, but others might misunderstand your Epstein connection.” [Rumble, 2/12/26] 
    • In the comments on a War Room clip covering the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, multiple users argued that Bannon should instead be addressing his connections to Epstein and suggested that he is using the Guthrie story as a distraction from the Epstein scandal. [Rumble, 2/13/26] 
  • Rumble comments asking Bannon to explain his relationship to Epstein
    • Another Rumble user commented on a War Room clip, “Bannon you seemed real chummy with Epstein. Perhaps you should just go away? At the very least you have piss poor judgment. I suspect it’s far worse than that.” [Rumble, 2/15/26] 
    • In comments on a War Room Rumble clip about AI safety, one user wrote, “Steve Bannon conspired with Epstein to destroy Trump and 1st presidential term,” adding: “Sloppy Steve is liar, sabotage, treasonist, corrupt total POS. BFF with Pedo and may certainly taken part.” Another comment wrote about Bannon’s emails in the Epstein files, “I sure hope that's fake because it looked legitimate and the world is waking up!” [Rumble, 2/16/26] 
    • In the comments of an evening episode of War Room, one Rumble user asked, “So Bannon worked for a known sexual predator and celebrated Epstein's successes in evading justice. Anyone else bothered by that?” Another replied “This guy tricked all of us.” [Rumble, 2/17/26]