Special Poll
Steve Bannon, longtime ally and former adviser to President Donald Trump, issued a stark warning Thursday, claiming that Trump will face prison time if a Democrat retakes the White House in 2028. His comments are fueling fresh anxiety among Trump loyalists and raising broader concerns about what could lie ahead after Trump’s presidency ends.
“God forbid we don’t win in ’28, President Trump is going to prison,” Bannon said during an appearance on Real America’s Voice. “People are still basking in the glow of Nov. 4, the inauguration, the balls but we are at war,” he added, referencing what he called an ongoing state of political warfare. Bannon warned that anyone not recognizing the urgency of the current moment “is not awake.”
His comments, highlighted by Mediaite, come amid growing legal entanglements for Trump, whose second term has already triggered a wave of court challenges over his sweeping executive actions. Federal judges have temporarily blocked several high-profile moves, including mass firings of federal employees, drastic immigration orders, and efforts to gut environmental protections and civil service rules.
Trump and his allies have launched aggressive attacks on the judiciary, frequently targeting judges who have ruled against his policies. This has sparked concerns from legal experts and political analysts about a potential constitutional crisis, particularly if the Trump administration defies or ignores court orders a scenario some believe is not off the table.
While Trump’s ongoing criminal cases were effectively paused after he assumed office in January thanks to Justice Department policy shielding sitting presidents the legal cloud surrounding him remains. Special counsel Jack Smithdropped two federal cases following Trump’s victory in 2024, citing DOJ protocol. A fourth case out of Georgia remains technically open but has gone quiet. Meanwhile, Trump still carries the weight of a conviction on 34 felony counts in a New York hush money case.
Bannon’s grim prediction reflects a wider fear among Trump loyalists that a future Democratic administration could revive prosecutions or reopen dormant investigations once Trump leaves office. Many in his inner circle worry that if the GOP loses the presidency in 2028, it could pave the way for criminal accountability that Trump has so far evaded through political power.
Behind the scenes, some Republicans are said to be rattled by the long-term implications of Trump’s legal exposure. With Bannon openly sounding the alarm, the issue could become a defining feature of the 2028 race, especially if Democrats campaign on holding Trump and his allies accountable once out of office.
Critics of the former president argue that Bannon’s statements are designed to rally Trump’s base through fear and defiance, but others see them as a candid acknowledgment of how precarious Trump’s legal situation really is. The threat of prosecution after leaving office raises a chilling question for Trump and his team: Is the presidency now the only shield keeping him out of prison?
And if so, will that reshape the stakes of future elections, making 2028 not just about policy but survival?