Trump guru ANALYSIS
HOW BORIS HAS CAUGHT THE EYE
When Boris Johnson compared burka-wearing women to bank robbers it was seen as a bid to win right-wing support for a Downing Street coup. The man inspiring BoJo? New ally Steve Bannon, the cynical political pupeteer who helped Donald Trump to power. HE is most famous for being Trump’s right-hand man. But before Steve Bannon turned his attention to getting The Donald into the White House he had a spell in Hollywood making films.
Described by many who knew him in Tinseltown as a “bitter wannabe”, Bannon produced titles like Generation Zero, The Undefeated, In the Face of Evil and Battle for America.
They all failed to deliver the acclaim he craved. Yet each had a common theme.
“There was always a search for leadership,” explains a propaganda expert who has studied his methods.
“There is a need for leaders who can carry the message of white Christian, free-market nationalism.
“Bannon builds a narrative around these characters.
“Trump may be an imperfect version of the warrior he would ideally have liked, but the ideology is there. The battle between good and evil. The clash of civilisations.”
Now, experts believe Bannon has found the perfect “warrior” he was looking for. Enter Boris Johnson. At first glance the two make an unlikely pair. Bannon’s working class roots are in direct contrast to the Old Etonian’s privileged upbringing.
The 64-year-old American was raised in Virginia in a “blue-collar, Irish Catholic, pro-Democrat family.”
He was an officer in the US Navy for seven years, then an investment banker at Goldman Sachs.
After his less than glorious stint in Hollywood, he headed up the rightwing Breitbart News operation.
FALL
There he worked as chief executive officer on the Trump campaign and in the White House – until their monumental fall out earlier this year.
However, it was during his time in the Trump administration that Bannon and BoJo became friends. And the two grow ever closer. Johnson was an early visitor to the White House and he and Bannon warmed to each other straight away.
Naturally it has led to claims that Bannon is trying to pull Boris in the same direction he did Trump. A source with knowledge of the relationship said: “They have been in touch since the first days of the White House, when the Government reaches out and the White House responds.
“Then Boris went over there and met Bannon. It’s not like they got in touch a couple of weeks ago when it was first reported.
“Since they met they’ve exchanged texts and messages.
“Boris is his own man and he would say the idea someone is pulling his strings is laughable.
“What is clear, however, is he is starting to realise populism in the way Bannon knows it is inherently appealing to the British public.”
Bannon used a visit to Europe last month to confirm his support for Johnson and has confirmed they were in touch. He lauds the former Foreign Secretary as “one of the most important persons on the world stage today.” Those close to both men are not surprised they hit it off.
“Bannon is a brilliant strategist so of course Boris would want to meet him,” one source told me.
“And there is a huge intellectual upside to the two getting together.”
The source added that Johnson was the ideal figure for Bannon to advance his project.
“Boris has similar characteristics to Trump,” they added. “Probably the most important – and the one Steve is most interested in – is that nothing sticks to either man.
“Look at some of the scandals around Trump – the sexism and racism. Nothing sticks. You can’t lay a glove on him.
“It’s the same with Boris. He does what he wants and the Tory membership – and beyond – love him. I think where he differs from Trump is his intellect. Trump is smart – don’t get me wrong – but Boris has the background.
“Coupled to that is his ambition. I’m sure he’d go along with Steve’s plans if it got him right to the top.”
Rumours abound in Westminster
Boris is one of the most important persons on the world stage today STEVE BANNON PRAISE HIS NEW FRIEND BORIS
that Boris’s latest intervention – when he compared Muslim women who wear the burka to bank robbers and letterboxes – is part of his latest manouevring to become PM.
It attracted widespread criticism, and evidence – ancedotally so far – of an increase in hate crimes.
The source who knows them both explained: “Boris won’t mind that he’s caused upset.
“I don’t think he’s going to apologise. And unfortunately it will