Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of the former president's closest strategists prior to stepping down from the White House in 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

These messages were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.

Priscilla Campbell
Priscilla Campbell

Maya Chen is a tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and consumer electronics.