‘Trump Clearly Called Steve Bannon!’ CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Sounds The Alarm On Trump Pal Who Ranted ‘Victory Or Death’
CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins sounded the alarm over prison-bound Trump pal Steve Bannon, who ranted “Victory or death!” at a rally and “clearly” has influence with former President Donald Trump.
Bannon was ordered Bannon to report to prison on July 1 after he was convicted of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena issued by the January 6 committee. In a stunning moment, Bannon briefly interrupted an interview this week to take a call from Trump.
On Monday night’s edition of CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins, Collins opened her show with commentary about President Joe Biden’s aggressive new attacks on Trump over his felony convictions and other verdicts.
Collins juxtaposed that with Trump’s promotion of mugshot merch, and Bannon’s recent rant promising retribution — pointing out the question of Bannon’s influence was answered by that on-air phone call:
Tonight, we are just 10 days away, it’s hard to believe it, from the first 2024 presidential debate, right here on CNN. And it is becoming clearer tonight what both campaigns see as the central issue of this race. And both seem to think that focusing on Donald Trump’s legal drama actually works to their benefit. Case in point, this television ad that the Biden campaign just dropped $50 million on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This election is between a convicted criminal, who’s only out for himself. And a President, who’s fighting for your family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Remember, when the Biden team was treading very carefully around Trump’s trial? Well, you can throw that out the window tonight.
Because now, the image that is front and center in that new ad, when it notes that the presumptive Republican nominee is indeed a convicted criminal, is Trump’s Georgia mug shot.
That would be the very same mug shot that Trump himself is now handing out of swag, before friendly interviews.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE MAJLAK, AUTHOR: Is this — is this your mug shot?
DONALD TRUMP (R), FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT AND 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is. Yes, can you believe it?
LOGAN PAUL, AMERICAN INFLUENCER AND PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER: No way. You’re a gangster.
TRUMP: This is what we’re reduced to.
(CROSSTALK)
PAUL: No way. No way.
MAJLAK: Should we put them on now?
TRUMP: Yes. Isn’t it–
PAUL: You know that’s–
TRUMP: Isn’t it crazy though?
MAJLAK: That’s amazing.
TRUMP: And it sells.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: It’s almost like a Rorschach test for voters. Do you see Trump, the convicted criminal? Or do you see Trump, the persecuted former President?
Tonight, the Biden team, their claim that Trump is out only for himself, in this campaign, is coming as what we are hearing from one of the loudest voices, in right-wing media, Steve Bannon, vowing that it is not a question of if, but when Donald Trump will go after those who prosecuted him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE BANNON, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF STRATEGIST: November 5th is judgment day. January 20th, 2025, is accountability day.
We’re going to get every single receipt. And to the fullest extension of the law, you are going to be investigated, prosecuted and incarcerated.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s very simple. Victory or death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: “Victory or death.”
If there was any doubt, in anyone’s mind, about whether or not Donald Trump is still in touch with his former Chief Strategist in the White House, who was abruptly fired, at one point, and had pretty frosty relations with Trump, but is now set to report to prison in just two weeks? Look at what happened today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BANNON: So Kari, hang on for one second. I got a — I got a call from someone I got to take. Just hang on.
KARI LAKE, AMERICAN FORMER TELEVISION NEWS ANCHOR: OK.
BANNON: Hey, Mr. President. I’m live on TV. Can I call you back?
I’ll call you back, sir. Thank you.
Kari, go ahead, continue on. Your favorite person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
…
COLLINS: Well, and the other interesting thing is sometimes people say, oh, these people who talk are maybe freelancing, or they’re not actually in touch with Donald Trump.
I mean, Trump clearly called Steve Bannon! He very clearly wanted to show that!
Watch above via CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins.
