Steve Bannon Foresees Populist Surge Across Europe, Backing Farage for British Leadership
Rising Momentum for Europe’s Nationalist Movements
WASHINGTON, DC — Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon predicted an unstoppable populist wave sweeping across Europe, asserting that movements advocating national sovereignty and border control are set to redefine the continent’s political landscape. Speaking at a recent forum in Washington, Bannon described a growing transatlantic alignment between the populist right in the United States and its European counterparts.
According to Bannon, the success of President Donald Trump’s renewed mandate in 2024 has emboldened like-minded political groups throughout Europe, inspiring them to reject the policies of globalization and bureaucratic governance that dominate European Union politics. He lauded nationalist leaders for resisting what he described as “technocratic elites” who have long shaped the continent’s direction.
“The people of Europe are rising,” Bannon said. “Across every capital—Rome, London, Paris, Warsaw—they’re taking back their sovereignty.”
His remarks signal renewed ambitions to unify Europe’s disparate populist movements under a common theme of national revival, challenging EU centralization and its social and economic directives.
Bannon’s Endorsement of Nigel Farage and Britain’s Political Shift
Bannon’s strongest prediction centered on Britain, where he expressed confidence that Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, would become the country’s next prime minister. He cited Farage’s enduring appeal to voters disillusioned with both the Conservative and Labour parties.
“Of course he’s gonna be next prime minister,” Bannon said emphatically.
He noted his long acquaintance with Farage dating back to the early 2010s, when Brexit was still a fringe idea confined to small political circles. Bannon recalled hosting informal strategy dinners in Washington between 2012 and 2014, where he and Farage discussed how Britain could reclaim self-governance from Brussels.
In the years since, Farage has sought to position himself as the defender of British independence and stricter immigration policy. His Reform UK party has grown in popularity amid an economic slowdown, energy challenges, and voter frustration over unchecked migration.
Bannon praised Farage’s transformation into what he called a “complete nationalist,” arguing that his assertive stance on border control has struck a chord with the British working class. “It’s not about anger,” Bannon said. “It’s about sovereignty, about the British people deciding who comes in, who stays out, and what kind of nation they want to be.”
France and the Growing Strength of Marine Le Pen
Turning to France, Bannon projected that Marine Le Pen’s National Rally would soon gain power, describing her movement as the leading edge of Europe’s populist realignment. “It’ll be Front National. Certainly will,” he said. “I hope it’ll be Le Pen, not the younger guy.”
Bannon’s reference to “the younger guy” alludes to Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s protégé and current president of the National Rally, who has rapidly gained popularity among younger voters. While Le Pen has sought to soften her party’s image, Bannon indicated a preference for her more seasoned leadership and her experience navigating decades of media hostility.
Under Le Pen’s leadership, the National Rally has capitalized on widespread discontent with inflation, industrial decline, and mounting concerns over migration, particularly in suburban areas suffering from high unemployment. Recent regional elections have reinforced the party’s foothold in northern and southeastern France—territories once considered strongholds of the political left.
According to economic analysts, the populist shift reflects deeper social stratification: urban voters remain loyal to centrist and progressive movements, while neglected provincial communities are embracing nationalism as a call for renewal. Bannon’s forecast suggests that France could soon join Italy and Hungary as European nations led by right-leaning populists.
The German and Italian Fronts of Populist Growth
In Germany, Bannon applauded the resurgence of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has withstood political isolation and censorship controversies to become the country’s second-most popular party in several regions. “If you think I’m enthusiastic about what we’ve accomplished here, I am really enthusiastic with what those people have accomplished,” he said, referring to activists who persisted despite surveillance and public backlash.
The AfD’s message, centered on law enforcement, energy independence, and border security, resonates particularly in eastern Germany, where economic disparities persist decades after reunification. Bannon characterized the German populist struggle as “David versus Goliath,” citing the strength of institutional resistance from media, academia, and established political parties.
Italy’s political transformation, meanwhile, remains Bannon’s favored example of populist triumph. He praised Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy government for achieving what he called “the model populist state.”
Under Meloni, Italy has tightened migration controls, reinforced family-centered welfare policies, and pursued an assertive posture in Brussels on national industrial interests. “Italy’s the template,” Bannon declared. “They’re proving you can govern as a nationalist without surrendering to the global elites.”
Analysts note that Italy’s approach has sparked renewed debate within the EU over balancing national sovereignty with collective governance. Rome’s insistence on flexible economic rules has encouraged other member states to question the EU’s rigid fiscal frameworks, especially amid inflation and energy volatility.
Populism in Spain, Hungary, and Poland
Bannon extended his optimism to Spain, where the right-wing party Vox has gained traction in recent elections despite setbacks in coalition talks. He described Vox as “the future of Iberian politics,” crediting its unapologetic nationalism and cultural conservatism for breaking decades of bipartisan dominance between Spain’s Socialist and Popular parties.
Similarly, he commended Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Poland’s conservative leadership for maintaining what he called “the fire of European identity.” These nations, long criticized by Brussels for defying EU migration quotas and judiciary reforms, have become Bannon’s prime examples of what sustained populist governance looks like in practice.
“Everywhere we’re getting momentum—from Hungary to Poland to Germany to Italy to Vox in Spain,” he said. “It’s not spontaneous. It’s the result of people refusing to back down, no matter how intense the pressure gets.”
The “Antifragile” Strategy: Resisting Until the Establishment Yields
Bannon described the populist movement as “antifragile,” borrowing the term from economist Nassim Nicholas Taleb to indicate systems that grow stronger when confronted with shocks or adversity. For Bannon, populism thrives on opposition, as each act of suppression or censorship allegedly fuels wider support.
“As long as you don’t quit, they will surrender,” he told activists. “Your task is to stay focused on the critical path—on winning elections, building institutions, and holding the line until the people in power have no choice but to concede.”
This resilience-based framework mirrors much of Bannon’s earlier strategy during the 2016 Trump campaign, where grassroots mobilization and online activism played central roles in circumventing mainstream media narratives. The emphasis, he said, remains on long-term persistence rather than immediate victories. “You are not gonna win everything,” Bannon admitted. “It’s a process.”
A Transatlantic Ideological Alliance
Bannon’s current efforts emphasize forging a sustained transatlantic partnership among nationalist movements. He views the European populist surge as a direct ideological descendant of American conservatism—an alliance united around three pillars: sovereignty, identity, and economic nationalism.
This transatlantic narrative underpins his establishment of activist networks aiming to coordinate messaging, media strategy, and political training. Bannon envisions this as a counterweight to globalist think tanks and institutions that he claims dominate policy discussions on climate, trade, and migration.
Though critics argue that Europe’s nationalist wave remains fragmented by internal rivalries, Bannon maintains that the ideological through-line is sufficient to create momentum. “The language may differ, but the emotions are the same,” he said. “People want control—over their borders, their resources, and their children’s future.”
Economic and Social Underpinnings of the Populist Wave
Analysts across Europe identify common socioeconomic triggers behind populist ascendancy: the erosion of traditional industries, rural depopulation, rising costs of living, and cultural unease amid mass migration. In particular, younger voters in economically depressed regions have turned to nationalist platforms as alternatives to conventional centrist policies that have failed to deliver sustained growth.
Countries such as Italy, Hungary, and Poland have demonstrated how populist-led reforms can recalibrate national economies around domestic production, energy independence, and family-oriented tax incentives. Although critics highlight risks to investor confidence and EU cohesion, supporters argue these programs protect national interests neglected by decades of liberal market orthodoxy.
The broader question—how far the populist momentum can extend before clashing with EU integration—is now among the most pressing political issues in Europe.
As election cycles approach in several European nations, including France and the United Kingdom, Bannon’s forecasts suggest a pivotal moment. Whether or not these movements seize power, their growing legitimacy has already shifted Europe’s political coordinates.
“The revolution’s not just an American story anymore,” Bannon concluded. “It’s a Western one.”