Is Steve Bannon Running the Show Behind Closed Doors as Trump Doesn’t Seem to Know What He is Doing?

While many wonder why President Trump appears to be out of his depth, a new book sheds light on a covert plan by Steve Bannon to remove him from office through the 25th Amendment. Veteran TV producer Isa Rosen, who worked on CBS’s iconic news show 60 Minutes, reveals in his memoir that Bannon believed Trump had dementia and was planning his removal.

Bannon, a former President of Breitbart News and Chief Strategist of Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, had served in the White House until 2017. According to Rosen, Bannon felt that Trump was incapable of performing his duties effectively. In his book, Rosen writes, 'Bannon believed Trump had dementia and launched a covert plan to remove him from office through the 25th Amendment.'

25th Amendment and the Presidential Succession Process

The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is designed to address scenarios where the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the presidency. This can be due to incapacity, death, resignation or removal from office. Bannon believed that Trump was repeating the same stories over and over, indicating potential mental incapacity, and he wanted to act on it through this legal mechanism.

Revelations from Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at 60 Minutes

Rosen, in his recently released memoir Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at 60 Minutes, discusses these revelations in detail. Rosen, an award-winning TV producer, shares that Bannon argued that under the 25th Amendment, he could temporarily resign, and Bannon would step in as acting president. However, Rosen notes, 'Bannon was delusional about it.'

In an interview on the Yahoo News podcast Skullduggery, Rosen also mentions a text message from Bannon where the former senior advisor stated that he believed Trump had mental capacity issues. Bannon reportedly visited the home of Robert Mercer, a prominent Republican donor, and tried to recruit him to back his plan.

Bannon’s Departure from the White House

Bannon’s tenure in the White House was marked by internal strife, particularly with Jared Kushner, Trump's senior advisor and son-in-law. Rosen’s book also details these conflicts and the abrupt end to Bannon’s time in office. Following reports of power struggles, Bannon was fired in 2017.

Post-White House and Pardon

Since leaving office, Boulevard, Bannon, has faced legal issues involving fraud in a private effort to build a border wall. Notably, just before leaving the White House, Trump pardoned Bannon, indicating a reconciliation of sorts. Rosen’s book offers insight into these complex dynamics and highlights the political upheaval that characterizes modern American politics.

Conclusion

The revelations from Rosen’s memoir provide a fascinating look into the inner workings of the Trump administration and suggest that far from being a straightforward leader, Trump may have been succumbing to mental incapacity. Bannon's actions under the 25th Amendment reflect a significant concern about the continuity of the presidency and the potential for political maneuvering behind closed doors.

Keywords: Steve Bannon, 25th Amendment, Donald Trump