In 1996, his second wife, Marla Maples, was caught one night with a Trump bodyguard on the beach near Mar-a-Lago under the lifeguard stand. This, Bannon was aware, had been a primal blow for Trump.
In Michael Wolff's book "Siege: Trump Under Fire," an incident from 1996 is recounted where Marla Maples, Donald Trump's second wife, was discovered with a Trump bodyguard on the beach close to Mar-a-Lago. This moment, occurring beneath a lifeguard stand, was particularly impactful for Trump, affecting him deeply on a personal level.
Steve Bannon, a close associate of Trump during his presidency, was aware of the emotional significance of this event for Trump. The revelation of Maples' actions served as a notable blow to Trump's ego and personal life, shedding light on the vulnerabilities he faced even as a powerful figure.
