Bannon calls Zuckerberg 'a criminal'
Steve Bannon, a former adviser to President-elect Trump, called Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg a criminal during an interview on ABC's "This Week" with Jonathan Karl.
During a discussion about Zuckerberg's and other tech moguls' relationship with Trump and the fact that they will be getting prime seats at the inauguration on Monday, Bannon said Trump "broke the oligarchs" and they "surrendered."
Karl then asked if Bannon believed in Zuckerberg's "conversion."
"Absolutely not," Bannon replied. "I think Mark Zuckerberg is a criminal."
Bannon said he wants Zuckerberg to be "properly adjudicated" and referred to "Zuckerbucks," which Republicans use to refer to Zuckerberg pouring millions into a nonprofit that sent money to election boards in 2020. The contributions were intended to be "non-partisan,” per the Meta founder, but Republicans accused them of being unfairly distributed among left and right leaning areas.
"I want to see that in a systematic adjudication either in the House or, I think, better with a grand jury and a special prosecutor to go through 2020," he continued.
When Karl asked if Bannon was calling for the Justice Department, under President-elect Trump, to prosecute Zuckerberg, Bannon clarified that he was not saying that.
"I didn't say that," he said." What I want is the House to do it first. But if they're not prepared to do it, a special counsel's set up that looks at the 2020 election and looks at it seriously and adjudicates it. If there's nothing there, there's nothing there."
However, he noted that he believes Zuckerberg will "flip on us in the second."
It's not the first time Bannon heavily criticized the Meta CEO, saying earlier last week that Zuckerberg "can't be trusted" and pushed the unsubstantiated claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
"When it's convenient for him, he will flip," he said.
Bannon's statements on ABC's "This Week" come after it was announced that Zuckerberg will host a black-tie reception on Jan. 20 after Trump’s inauguration. In recent weeks, Zuckerberg attended a series of meetings with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, made a $1 million donation to the inaugural fund and brought a swift end to Meta’s fact-checking program.
Topics
-
Trump v Bannon, Musk v Farage: who hates who in Magaland
The feuds and rivalries within the US president-elect’s Maga ecosystem – including some British sympathisers. The task of deconstructing the internal manoeuvrings of the leadership of the Soviet ...The Guardian - 2d -
Elon Musk Is an ‘Evil Person,’ Steve Bannon Says
The comments highlighted rifts within the U.S. right wing and between two men who have been influential advisers to President-elect Donald J. Trump.The New York Times - 6d -
The cravenness of Mark Zuckerberg
Changes to the fact-checking regime at Meta make it look like he’s caving in to TrumpFinancial Times - 6d -
Steve Bannon says he will 'take down' the 'truly evil' Elon Musk
President-elect Trump’s former adviser Steve Bannon has vowed to “take down” tech billionaire Elon Musk, calling him “truly evil.” In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, as ...The Hill - 6d -
Steve Bannon condemns Elon Musk as ‘racist’ and ‘truly evil’
Ex-Trump adviser denounces tech CEO’s embrace of some forms of immigration and vows to ‘take this guy down’. In an escalation of discontent among the highest-profile far-right followers of Donald ...The Guardian - Jan. 12 -
Takeaways from Trump’s Criminal Sentencing
Friday’s punishment was largely symbolic, but it ensured that Donald J. Trump would become America’s first felon president.The New York Times - Jan. 11 -
Trump calls with Justice Alito in push to halt his criminal sentencing
President-elect Trump returned to Washington to meet with Republican senators on Capitol Hill to plan his administration’s agenda. It comes as he asked the Supreme Court to block his sentencing in ...NBC News - Jan. 9 -
Musk, Zuckerberg and free speech
Can democracy function with Elon Musk’s idea of free speech?BBC News - Jan. 9 -
Mark Zuckerberg sports $900,000 watch as he calls time on Meta fact-checking
Tech giant CEO wore Greubel Forsey ‘Hand Made 1’, which retails for $895,500, as he announced policy overhaul. Mark Zuckerberg wore a rare Swiss watch worth nearly $900,000 as he announced a ...The Guardian - Jan. 7
More from The Hill
-
Trump plans barrage of day one executive actions on border, energy, federal workforce
President-elect Trump is planning a barrage of executive actions on energy, border and immigration enforcement on his first day in office, four sources told The Hill. Stephen Miller, incoming White ...The Hill - 20m -
Newsom announces bank mortgage loan grace period after wildfires
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Saturday commitments from five major banks to offer homeowners affected by the wildfires a 90-day grace period on their mortgage payments. The financial ...The Hill - 24m -
Live updates: Trump to hold victory rally at Capital One Arena, TikTok restores service
President-elect Trump is making the rounds in Washington on Sunday ahead of a victory rally at Capital One Area just before Inauguration Day. Trump arrived in the nation's capital over the weekend ...The Hill - 49m -
Vice President Harris faces tough decisions on political future
Advisers and allies are privately deliberating Vice President Harris’s next steps as she prepares to leave office Monday facing an uncertain future after an unprecedented year. Harris, who became ...The Hill - 1h -
Graham calls for the 'decimation' of Iranian nuclear program after ceasefire
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday called for the “decimation” of the Iranian nuclear program in the wake of a new ceasefire in Gaza. “The next topic I will be engaging in with President Trump, ...The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Trump plans barrage of day one executive actions on border, energy, federal workforce
President-elect Trump is planning a barrage of executive actions on energy, border and immigration enforcement on his first day in office, four sources told The Hill. Stephen Miller, incoming White ...The Hill - 20m -
Newsom announces bank mortgage loan grace period after wildfires
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Saturday commitments from five major banks to offer homeowners affected by the wildfires a 90-day grace period on their mortgage payments. The financial ...The Hill - 24m -
Poll: Trump's return to office greeted with optimism, high expectations
As Trump returns to White House, many expect lower prices, good economy. Fewer would buy Greenland. Democrats are concerned, exhausted by politics.CBS News - 36m -
Live updates: Trump to hold victory rally at Capital One Arena, TikTok restores service
President-elect Trump is making the rounds in Washington on Sunday ahead of a victory rally at Capital One Area just before Inauguration Day. Trump arrived in the nation's capital over the weekend ...The Hill - 49m -
Vice President Harris faces tough decisions on political future
Advisers and allies are privately deliberating Vice President Harris’s next steps as she prepares to leave office Monday facing an uncertain future after an unprecedented year. Harris, who became ...The Hill - 1h