Epstein fiasco could cost GOP 40 House seats, Bannon says, ‘10% of the MAGA base will walk away’

Steve Bannon raised the alarm about the fallout for Republicans due to the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The former White House aide warned during his “War Room” podcast that the abrupt announcements from the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI on the investigation of Epstein documents could trigger a MAGA exodus that could cost Republicans in Congress and all the way to the White House.

“You’re going to lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement. If we lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement right now, we ain’t gonna … we’re gonna lose 40 seats in ’26,” he said, referring to midterm elections in 2026.

“We’re gonna lose the president,” he added.

BANNON: The Epstein list is just the tip of the iceberg here; the real question is about who really governs us.

If this cover-up continues, 10% of the MAGA base will walk away.

Lose them now, and we lose 40 seats in 2026 and the presidency in 2028. pic.twitter.com/a2BbH7Bo1W

— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) July 11, 2025

“They don’t even have to steal it, which they’re gonna try to do in ’28, because they’re gonna sit there and they go … they’ve disheartened the hardest core populist nation that’s always been who governs us,” Bannon said, referring to Democrats who are hoping to take back House and Senate seats.

Bannon’s warning that the Epstein fiasco won’t go away comes as Attorney General Pam Bondi has come under fierce criticism for her handling of the investigation after a disappointing initial release of documents.

Previously teasing about the so-called “client list,” Bondi had said she had a list of names “sitting on her desk.” But last week, a memo claimed there was no Epstein client list and confirmed that the convicted sex offender died by suicide in 2019 while in his New York City jail cell.

“Epstein is a key that picks the lock on so many things, not just individuals, but also institutions,” Bannon told Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit over the weekend.

“Intelligence institutions, foreign governments, and who was working with him on our intelligence apparatus and in our government,” he added.

BANNON ON IT’S A TIME FOR CHOOSING NOW: ‘In that arc of looking at how the Deep state has tried to stop Trump and the MAGA movement, you can easily fit in. The Epstein situation. — Epstein is a key that picks the lock on so many things, not just individuals, but also… pic.twitter.com/bzBltp5mhw

— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) July 13, 2025

“They think Americans are too stupid to make a determination on the Epstein files for themselves. No one wants victim info leaked, but the evidence should be public,” Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said during the War Room podcast.

“Even Epstein’s own lawyer admits powerful people are being protected,” conservative commentator Jack Posobiec said.

“They f‑‑‑ed up because they trusted her,” podcast host Megyn Kelly said of Bondi last week. “They were humiliated because she gave them all these binders that read ‘Epstein Files,’ you know, ‘Volume 1,’ and there was nothing new in there. Nothing. There was no scoop. Why would she do that?”

There are really only two options:
1. There’s no huge undisclosed there there on Epstein, Bondi misled on it (until she didn’t) & Trump is quick to forgive a loyal soldier for being desperate to get on TV; or
2. There is a scandal that’s being covered up & it’s at his direction.

— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) July 13, 2025