Stephen K. Bannon was seated in the back seat of an S.U.V. on a pleasant Friday evening in Powhatan, Va., enjoying what could potentially be his final weeks of freedom.
Just the day before, a federal judge had ordered Mr. Bannon, the former adviser to President Donald J. Trump, to surrender by July 1 to begin serving a four-month prison sentence for defying a congressional subpoena.
Despite this looming deadline, Mr. Bannon was unwavering in his commitment to headline a rally in rural Virginia for Representative Bob Good, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. This was the kind of event that energized him.
“This is ‘War Room,’” Mr. Bannon proudly declared as he observed rally attendees setting up to listen to his speech. He was referring to the influential podcast he broadcasts from his Capitol Hill basement for four hours daily.
While he acknowledged the need to find guest hosts for his show during his absence, Mr. Bannon, known for embracing controversy, saw his upcoming imprisonment as a source of strength. He viewed it as a patriotic stand by a MAGA warrior being silenced by the government in the lead-up to the presidential election.
“There’s no downside,” Mr. Bannon asserted. “I served on a Navy destroyer in my 20s in the North Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. I’m serving in prison in my 70s. Not a bad bookend.”
He added, “It’s not like I’m out every night; it’s not like it’s going to cramp my social agenda.”
Mr. Bannon remained unapologetic.
“What are you talking about?” Mr. Bannon retorted when asked about cooperation. “I’m proud of what I did. I’m proud of the fact that I stood up to Nancy Pelosi.”
His primary concern now is the future of the movement he has nurtured through his podcast, where listeners are referred to as “the posse.” Mr. Bannon passionately discusses various topics including the alleged election fraud, immigration issues, federal budget concerns, aid to Ukraine, and the perceived alignment of some Republicans with Democrats.
“‘War Room’ is not a podcast,” Mr. Bannon emphasized. “It’s a military command center for the information war, and it will continue to be that.”
Mr. Bannon, who practices meditation for mental training, expressed confidence in his ability to cope with life in prison.
“I have a very strict regimen in my life,” he stated. “Prison will have a routine and tasks, and I’m nothing special, so I will do whatever is required. But there is zero chance I don’t keep ‘War Room’ focused on the only thing that matters: Total victory.”
During his visit to Powhatan, Mr. Bannon stood in solidarity with Representative Bob Good, one of the Republicans he encouraged to challenge Kevin McCarthy for the House speaker position last year. Mr. Good sought Mr. Bannon’s endorsement to counter the impact of Mr. Trump endorsing his opponent in a divisive Republican primary.
Upon taking the stage, Mr. Bannon was greeted with a standing ovation and hailed as a martyr for the cause.
“Steve Bannon embodies patriotism and freedom,” remarked Mr. Good. “He has truly sacrificed for the country.”
Mr. Bannon urged the crowd not to pity him.
“Prison is not going to be that bad,” he assured. “It’s just serving my country in a different way! I’m proud of it.”
However, Mr. Bannon faces additional legal challenges ahead. State prosecutors in Manhattan have accused him of misusing funds raised for a group supporting Mr. Trump’s border wall, with a fraud trial scheduled for later this year.
Sitting in his S.U.V. before the rally, Mr. Bannon remained focused on the positive aspects of his situation.
“They’ve elevated me beyond my actual stature,” he remarked about the Democrats, the courts, and the so-called ‘deep state’ that he portrays as working against him. “They can’t resist. I provoke them on a level that others don’t. President Trump provokes them, but they see him as too big a target. They can’t reach Lenin, so they go after Trotsky.”
Notably, even hosts of left-leaning shows like “Morning Joe” on MSNBC have acknowledged the strategic timing of his sentence to keep him off the air until after the election.
“The timing is deliberate,” he asserted. “100 percent.”
Drawing parallels to D-Day commemorations, Mr. Bannon likened his situation and the conservative movement to the Allied troops landing on Normandy beaches.
“My message to people is, ‘Next man up,’” he declared. “This happened on the 6th of June in Normandy. It’s next man up. They’re going to sentence Trump to prison on the 11th. It’s got to be next man up.”
He saw a silver lining for the movement, as his listeners would understand the true essence of populism: taking initiative without relying solely on prominent leaders. “You have to remove the training wheels,” he emphasized.
As his days of freedom dwindled, what were Mr. Bannon’s plans?
“Continue ‘War Room’ for four hours a day,” he stated. “Engage in more activities like this to assist people. If July 1 arrives without any appeals, then I’ll comply with the orders. I understand how the system functions.”
“’War Room’ will be even stronger,” he affirmed, “during my time in prison.”
