By
James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is on covering news and politics in Texas, as well as other general news across the United States. James joined Newsweek in July 2022 from LBC, and previously worked for the Daily Express. He is a graduate of Oxford University. Languages: English. Twitter: @JBickertonUK. You can get in touch with James by emailing j.bickerton@newsweek.com
James Bickerton
US News Reporter
Steve Bannon has predicted Donald Trump “is going to prison” unless “we” win the 2028 presidential election.
Trump’s former White House chief strategist made the remarks on Thursday during an appearance on his War Room podcast.
Newsweek contacted Bannon for comment, via an email sent to War Room, on Friday outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Trump is the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony and if he is imprisoned after his second White House term, it would be an unprecedented step in American political history, that would likely be fiercely opposed by his supporters.
What To Know
Speaking on his War Room podcast, Bannon said: “God forbid we don’t win in 2028 President Trump is going to prison just like Bolsonaro in Brazil.”
In February, Brazil’s chief prosecutor charged the country’s ex-President Jair Bolsonaro on five counts including attempting to stage a coup following his defeat to Lula da Silva at the 2022 presidential election. Earlier this week, a panel of the Brazilian Supreme Court unanimously ruled the case should go to trial, though Bolsonaro strongly denies any wrongdoing.
Bolsonaro enjoyed warm relations with Trump and was nicknamed the “Trump of the Tropics” by multiple media outlets.
Bannon also predicted Trump will face a third impeachment attempt if Republicans lose control of the House at the 2028 midterm elections. Trump has already been acquitted in two impeachment trials, one for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in 2019 and another for incitement of insurrection following the Capitol Hill riot of January 6, 2021.
Former advisor to Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, speaking at the Gaylord National Resort in Oxon Hill, MD on Thursday, 20, 2025 (left) and President Donald Trump announcing tariffs on auto imports in the Oval Office…
DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP/MANDEL NGAN/GETTY
Trump was awaiting sentencing after being convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in May 2024 when he won his second presidential election victory in November 2024.
The president has also been charged over claims he mishandled classified documents and broke the law whilst trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election result both nationwide and in the state of Georgia specifically. He has denied wrongdoing in all three cases.
After Trump’s victory, the federal classified documents and election interference cases were dropped by Special Counsel Jack Smith, whilst the Georgia case was pushed back until after his presidency.