Bannon was curiously able to embrace Trump while at the same time suggesting he did not take him entirely seriously. He had first met Trump, the on-again off-again presidential candidate, in 2010; at a meeting in Trump Tower, Bannon had proposed to Trump that he spend half a million dollars backing Tea Party–style candidates as a way to further his presidential ambitions.
In Michael Wolff's book "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," Steve Bannon displays a complex relationship with Donald Trump. Despite his close alignment with Trump, Bannon often hints that he does not fully regard Trump's seriousness as a leader. Their first encounter dates back to 2010 when Bannon pitched a strategy involving financial support for Tea Party candidates as a means to bolster Trump's political ambitions.
Bannon's duality in embracing Trump while maintaining a critical perspective reveals the intricate dynamics of their partnership. This approach suggests Bannon viewed Trump more as a vehicle for his own political ideas rather than a steadfast ally, hinting at underlying tensions that would later become evident within Trump's administration.
