X (formerlyTwitter) CEO, Elon Musk took to his social media platform to publicly call Steve Bannon evil. Musk shared a post by user Ian Miles Cheong that shared an article highlighting the many supposed misdeeds of Bannon.
In the post, Musk says: “Bannon is evil.”
The article, titled “Every Nail to Hammer: The Definitive Case Against Steve Bannon” was reposted Tuesday by Musk on X, claiming Bannon had repeatedly crossed legal and ethical boundaries while climbing up the corporate and political ladder.
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It explored Bannon’s career, spanning nearly two decades, moving through finance, digital gaming, media, and politics, but a closer look reveals a consistent strategy: leveraging decentralized networks for personal enrichment and political influence. His early ventures included Internet Gaming Entertainment (IGE), where he used his investment banking background to secure $60 million from Goldman Sachs.
IGE acted as a marketplace for virtual currency, which was linked to identity theft and financial fraud. Gold farming operations mimicked money laundering: stolen credit cards funded game accounts, virtual currency was “layered” through trades, and legitimate marketplaces like IGE sold the cleaned currency to Western users. Bannon ultimately became CEO of IGE (rebranded Affinity Media), navigating lawsuits and co-founder disputes involving alleged tax evasion and asset stripping.
Bannon’s pivot to politics was strategic, not ideological. During the GamerGate era, he recognized the mobilizing power of online male communities—previously hostile to his gaming ventures—and harnessed them for political influence. Through Breitbart and the recruitment efforts of figures like Milo Yiannopoulos, Nick Fuentes, and Lauren Southern, Bannon built a digital ecosystem that nurtured a generation of right-wing influencers. Many owe their platforms and visibility to the networks and infrastructure he established, creating a “professional debt” that discourages criticism of him.
Legally, Bannon’s tactics reached public attention through the “We Build the Wall” campaign, where he and associates were charged with defrauding donors. While a federal pardon from Donald Trump shielded him from one trial, he pled guilty in February 2025 to a state fraud charge. These legal troubles underscored the persistent pattern of extracting financial gain under the guise of political or charitable endeavors.
Bannon’s partnership with Miles Guo extended this strategy internationally. Together, they launched GTV Media, Himalaya Exchange, and related ventures, raising over $1 billion through unregistered stock offerings and cryptocurrency schemes. Guo was later convicted of multiple crimes, and Bannon’s ties to these schemes intersected with his legal issues in the U.S.
Bannon’s influence even caused friction with high-profile allies, such as Elon Musk, after his release from prison and continued political attacks. Revelations linking Bannon to Jeffrey Epstein further undermined his standing.
In sum, Bannon’s career is defined less by ideology than by exploiting digital and political systems for personal enrichment. From virtual gaming markets to American politics, he has repeatedly applied strategies of manipulation, influence, and financial extraction. Bannon’s story is one of calculated grift rather than genuine political evolution, demonstrating how digital networks can be weaponized for private gain.