The Conversation (0)
x
Greg Evans
Jul 31, 2019
The notorious far-right political strategist Steve Bannon has today been interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Todayprogramme.
Bannon, who was an adviser to Donald Trump and was also a founding member of the conservative news outlet Brietbart,spoke to Jon Sopel, the BBC's North American editor, at the US-Mexico border.
The 65-year-old who has been accused of promoting a 'white nationalist' agenda is never shy of controversial decisions and during their 28-minute conversation topics such as Boris Johnson, Brexit, Nigel Farage and Ilhan Omar were all brought up.
Challenged about @realDonaldTrump's use of language against four ethnic minority US congresswomen, ex-campaign mana… https://t.co/aIgSlj8pwS— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBC Radio 4 Today) 1564563112
"Brexit and the Trump election are inextricably linked" says Steve Bannon. "You ain't seen nothing yet... you're ab… https://t.co/lBQeRlD6eb— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBC Radio 4 Today) 1564558457
As controversy tends to follow Bannon around like a bad smell (so it's not just his body odour?), the backlash to the BBC giving someone with his notoriety such considerable airtime was vast and completely and utterly damming, with some questioning why 'extremism' is being normalised on the airwaves.
I'm not one to bash the BBC. But Steve Bannon is a white supremacist. His ideology is poisoning minds at a time whe… https://t.co/mDpRWvjKgp— Patrick Galey (@Patrick Galey) 1564561304
Why is Steve Bannon an avowed white supremacist, anti semite racist given almost 15 mins uninterrupted airtime on… https://t.co/5mAVRDN1mG— David Lammy (@David Lammy) 1564557415
Radio 4 Today programme : ‘Later we are going to be hearing from Steve Bannon’ WHY ? Why would you give him airtime?— emily bell (@emily bell) 1564549434
If you fell asleep in 2015 and just woke up, Steve Bannon, a white supremacist, was just on Radio 4 praising his pa… https://t.co/7Gz5HFfc05— David Schneider (@David Schneider) 1564558466
Hearing Trump’s former populist adviser, Steve Bannon heap praise on Boris Johnson on @BBCr4today is pretty grim. I… https://t.co/zu478lYfc3— Andrew Powell (@Andrew Powell) 1564555745
Others were critical of the BBC for allowing Bannon to say a multitude of things, without hardly being questioned.
Jon Sopel is asking Steve Bannon questions but barely challenges him afterwards. He's allowing him to say whatever… https://t.co/SjNDplXGiZ— Stanners (@Stanners) 1564555271
Of course, there were a few jokes.
that Today programme interview with Steve Bannon wasn’t to soften us up for when he’s revealed as a Strictly contestant, was it— Toby Earle (@Toby Earle) 1564567605
Are we 100% sure Steve Bannon hasn't been talking to other bits of the BBC today too? https://t.co/Z5I1FlCQ9o— Ross McKay (@Ross McKay) 1564566885
Steve Bannon: “Let them call you a racist. Wear it as a badge of honour.” BBC: “Book that prick, let’s air his vie… https://t.co/2si0QbOG9F— James Felton (@James Felton) 1564559439
Keep reading...Show less