Steve Bannon Questions Israel Reliance on US: 'They Want Us To Go on Offense'
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Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has accused the Israeli government of trying to draw the United States into a war with Iran, saying they "want us to go on offense" against Tehran.
Bannon, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump who served in the first Trump administration from January to August 2017, made the claim on his War Room podcast on Friday.
Newsweek contacted Bannon for comment via an email to the podcast on Saturday outside regular office hours.
Why It Matters
On June 13, the Israeli military launched a series of air strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, nuclear scientists and senior government figures. The Israeli government says it launched the attack because it believed Tehran was trying to acquire a nuclear weapon, something Iran strongly denies.
Trump told reporters that he knew about the attacks in advance, and the strikes have divided American conservatives. While some support Israel's action, others warn that the U.S. could be pulled into another Middle Eastern war.
What To Know
Referring to Israel on his podcast, Bannon said: "If you're going to go alone, you can take care of your deal or not. You don't need us. Decide to go alone. Decide to reject it—'No, we don't need you. We're going to go it alone.' And they go it alone last about six hours. Not only do they want defense, they want us to go on offense.
"Don't believe me. Tucker Carlson's got a tweet up. I will not repeat the names on this show at this time. I have not verified that."
Following the Israeli strikes, Carlson criticized a number of American conservatives who he said were "calling Donald Trump today to demand air strikes." The former Fox News commentator branded the callers as "warmongers."
A U.S. military official told Newsweek that American forces helped defend Israel from a retaliatory Iranian missile attack on Friday, but there are no reports of U.S. strikes taking place against Iran itself.
Steve Bannon at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on February 20.
Steve Bannon at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on February 20.
Andrew Harnik/GETTY
On his podcast, Bannon also said: "If you're going to do it, do it. Go for it. You make your own decision. You decided: 'We got to do it. We've got to do it now. They've got 15 nuclear weapons.' Then go for it.
"But then why do we have to come and air defense. And please don't use 'oh, because we have things in Tel Aviv.' Then get them the hell out of Tel Aviv. And if you're an American citizen over there, give them a shot. Get out or stick. If you stick, that's fine. This is how we get sucked in."
The Israeli military has said Iran had enough fission material to construct 15 nuclear bombs "within days" before it struck. However, Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons and insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.
On Friday, a number of Iranian rockets struck cities in Israel, including Tel Aviv, while others were intercepted by air defense. Simultaneously, Israeli jets continued to pound military and nuclear-linked targets in Iran.
According to the Israeli government, three people were killed in the Iranian attacks. Iran's representative to the United Nations said on Friday that 78 people died in Israeli strikes.
What People Are Saying
Shashank Joshi, the defense editor at The Economist, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Iran's strategy has been to keep conflict at bay by using proxies & militias as a buffer. When the proxy-militia system collapsed over the last 18 months, thanks in large part to post-Oct 7 dynamics, it left Iran extraordinarily vulnerable. The result is now playing out over Iran."
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, wrote on X: "I applaud President Trump for urging Iran back to the negotiating table, in order to end the regime's nuclear ambitions through diplomacy, avoiding further bloodshed. However, if Iran refuses this offer, I strongly believe it is in America's national security interest to go all-in to help Israel finish the job."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether U.S. forces will join the Israeli military campaign against Iran. If they do, the move will likely prove controversial among conservatives—with critics arguing that it contradicts the administration's "America First" agenda.
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