REPORT: Top MAGA Power Player Plotting Surprise Run For President

One of the original architects of the MAGA movement may be quietly laying the groundwork to slip out from behind the shadows and into the 2028 presidential race.

President Donald Trump’s earliest days were defined by an indefatigable set of advisors who brought him from the golden escalator of Trump Tower to the lush lawn of the White House. Almost none of them surround him today.

One persists, however, in conservative media, where he has cultivated a diehard following and believes he has the grassroots backing to mount an improbable run to succeed Trump.

Steve Bannon is said to be telling allies that his audacious plan could captivate the Make American Great Again movement he branded with Trump when it was just them, Kellyanne Conway, Hope Hicks, and a select few against the political establishment.

Despite serving just a handful of weeks in Trump’s first administration, Bannon has maintained relevance through his “War Room” podcast, one of conservative media’s most popular show and which regularly draws some of Washington, D.C.’s biggest power brokers to his production studio.

Running in 2028 would throw Bannon headlong into a titanic battle with J.D. Vance, who Trump and his allies believe has the inside track to the nomination.

Now sources are speaking out about Bannon’s unvarnished thoughts on the vice president.

“Love him… but Vance is not tough enough to run in 2028,” one person familiar with Bannon’s thinking said about his attitude toward his potential rival.

Just days ago, President Trump posited that Vance will “probably” walk away with the GOP nomination in 2028. Those who know Bannon say it’s no surprise to see him speaking out now.

One Republican consultant who remains close with Bannon said he has long speculated about his own run for president, but hasn’t grown as serious about setting up the infrastructure has he has in recent days.

Bannon, who declined to comment to the Daily Mail about his future career prospects, told reporters back in March, “I don’t think like a politician… all I do is back President Trump and try to move the populist agenda and the America First agenda.”

He added that a question about running for president himself was “too absurd” to close the door on forever.

Conservatives who attended the annual CPAC gathering in February selected Vance as their top choice for 2028 with 61% of the vote, but Bannon came in a notable second with 12%.

As for Vance, Bannon takes credit for helping him make the 2024 ticket, saying he “pushed and propped him up” after the former Ohio senator criticized Trump early in his political life.

“He created his image,” the first source said.

After the story first ran, Bannon quickly responded, telling the National Pulse, “Trump 2028.”