Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Bannon Says We Should Support Putin Because He's 'Anti-Woke' And Doesn't 'Have The Pride Flags'

Bannon Says We Should Support Putin Because He's 'Anti-Woke' And Doesn't 'Have The Pride Flags'
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon offered praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that the United States should support Putin even as he proceeds with a violent invasion of Ukraine because he is "anti-woke" and has criticized his country's LGBTQ+ community for openly flying Pride flags.

Bannon made the remarks on his War Room podcast during an interview with Erik Prince, the CEO of the private military contractor Blackwater, who agreed with Bannon's suggestion that Putin's action in Ukraine is understandable because of the country's desire to strengthen ties with the West.


You can hear their conversation in the video below.

In the weeks before the invasion, Russia had issued several security demands the United States and its allies rejected.

Putin aims to curtail the enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), seeking to bar Ukraine from joining the alliance in a bid to assert Russia’s influence over its neighbors, aspirations that gained further prominence after Putin seized the Crimean Penninsula.

Although Ukraine is not yet a member of NATO, it is partnered with the military alliance. This development angered Putin, who views Ukraine not as an independent nation but as land lost as a result of the end of the Cold War, which resulted in the Soviet Union's collapse and diminished Russia's superpower status.

Putin had left world leaders guessing as to whether or not he actually wanted to proceed with an invasion though he clearly wants NATO to curb military exercises in Ukraine and in other former Soviet satellite states, demands that resulted in a diplomatic stalemate.

Bannon began by referring to NATO is an organization of "deadbeats," behavior that he claims justifies attempts to limit its expansion:

“NATO expansion, as bad as that is, it’s the EU later, trying to force into the Ukraine… that would be the equivalent … of China coming here and signing a defense pact with Mexico … right on our border and up against our grille."

He then suggested that the United States should consider forming an alliance with Russia over China but made the erroneous claim that such a notion runs counter to views of a "woke America."

Bannon and Prince proceeded to mock the LGBTQ+ community, saying that Putin is "anti-woke" and that the Russians "still know which bathroom to use" because they've accepted that there are merely "two" genders.

“They don’t have the flags, they don’t have the Pride flags outside of their–" Bannon said, though he didn't finish his sentence before Prince proceeded to mock transgender athletes by stating that the Russians "don’t have boys swimming in girls’ college swim meets."

While Putin has not explicitly banned Pride flag displays in his country, his administration's federal law "for the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values," also referred to in English-language media as the gay propaganda law, has sought to restrict content and behavior that would present homosexuality as a societal norm.

Both Bannon and Prince have been widely criticized since the interview went live and they've faced accusations of openly backing fascistic behavior and harboring anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment




Bannon has used his program over the last few weeks to actively criticize President Joe Biden's administration while allowing his guests to openly praise Putin and spread misinformation about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Last month, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, used her time on the program to further elevate discredited conspiracy theories about Hunter Biden's business dealings, suggesting President Biden is willing to wage war with a major nuclear power to protect his son from blowback.

Former President Trump has also been criticized for praising Putin's action, referring to him as a “genius” for moving troops to Ukraine’s eastern border.

Trump said that Putin is “very savvy” and made a “genius” move when he signed a decree recognizing Luhansk and Donetsk, parts of Eastern Ukraine, as independent entities and claimed that he was moving troops to regions held by Russian separatists in a bid to ensure “peace.”

More from People/donald-trump

Screenshots from Croissant Woman's TikTok video
@croissantwoman/TikTok

Former Camp Counselor Weirded Out After Getting 'Creepy' Letter From A Camper's Dad

This week, we've gathered yet another reason why women always choose the bear.

While deep-cleaning her room, TikToker Croissant Woman uncovered a letter, and a terrible memory, from the summer of 2022 when she was still working as a camp counselor. At that time, she received a letter from one of her camper's dads, asking her to be his "friend."

Keep ReadingShow less
Scott Campbell; Beyoncé
Stupid Things for Love Podcast; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Dad Shares How Beyoncé Randomly Praised His Daughter's 'Crazy Hair' At The Dentist

There's nothing more epic than a child with low self-esteem getting validated by world-renowned music icon Beyoncé.

A dad named Scott Campbell went viral on social media for his touching anecdote about how the Grammy-winning artist helped his young daughter overcome her insecurities after she was being bullied at school because of her appearance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot from Kelli Klement's TikTok video; Child stressed out on flight
@kelliklement8/TikTok; Cunaplus_M.Faba/Getty Images

Dad Sparks Debate After Leaving Young Son Alone To Sit Between Two Strangers On Flight

Can we all agree that parents who leave their children in the care of women, simply because they're women, are among the biggest "parenting fail" candidates?

TikToker Kelli Klement recently boarded a flight and sat down in a row of three seats, with another woman sitting at the other end of the row, leaving the seat between them empty.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump signing executive order flanked by children "signing" the same thing
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Ripped For Using Children As Props In Bizarre Signing Ceremony To Dismantle Education Department

President Donald Trump was criticized after he used children as props during a dystopian signing ceremony to officially begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education (DOE).

Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the DOE—an apparent attempt to bypass Congressional approval, which is required to formally shut down a federal agency.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jesse Watters
Fox News

Jesse Watters Dragged After Adding Another Mind-Boggling Rule For 'Real Men'

Fox News host Jesse Watters, who is apparently an authority of what it means to be a manly man, gave jazz hands to make a point about how "real men" should or shouldn't wave.

The target of his ridicule was Tim Walz, the enthusiastic Democratic Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidate who often greets the public by raising both hands in the air to wave.

Keep ReadingShow less