Former Breitbart editor-at-large Ben Shapiro says his old boss, Steve Bannon, is about to give President Trump an experience out of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”
News on Friday of Mr. Bannon’s exit as chief White House strategist prompted pundits to immediately begin reading political tea leaves. Mr. Shapiro, who now heads The Daily Wire, expressed confidence that Mr. Bannon would assume the role of the “Night King” from “Game of Thrones,” a powerful “White Walker” with an army at his disposal.
“I said one year ago that Bannon understands that in the game of thrones, you win or die; he doesn’t intend to die,” the conservative said. “Now that he’s been beheaded by Trump, look for him to try to become the Night King, leaving destruction in his wake.”
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters on Friday that Mr. Bannon’s parting was on friendly terms, although The New York Times reported on a resignation letter delivered Aug. 7.
“White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Steve Bannon have mutually agreed today would be Steve’s last day,” Mrs. Huckabee Sanders said. “We are grateful for his service and wish him the best.”
Mr. Shapiro offered a different take.
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“He’s preparing for the possibility of war with Trump,” the conservative said. “Bannon is deeply vengeful, and supremely ambitious. He has already held the most powerful job he will ever have — unless, of course, his new job is to destroy Trump from the outside. […] Bannon is also media savvy enough to know that he’ll never miss work being a Trump critic. The media will continue to book him. They’ll be eager to put him on television to criticize Trump; they think this will drive down Trump’s approval ratings. And Bannon will look for some other horse to back, or try to become the horse himself.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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