Donald Trump has totally reversed his opinion on Steve Bannon, seemingly entirely as a result of flattery.
Bannon, the former White House chief strategist, appeared on CNBC this week to talk up the President’s chances of winning in 2020 while criticising the current crop of Democratic candidates. Trump shared the video with a tweet stating:
Nice to see that one of my best pupils is still a giant Trump fan. Steve joined me after I won the primaries, but I loved working with him!
As recently as last year, it emerged that Bannon was a key source for Michael Wolff’s, Fire and Fury, a book that lifted the lid on the utter chaos of the Trump administration.
Bannon was quoted as referring to Ivanka Trump as “dumb as a brick”. Trump’s response at the time?
Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book. He used Sloppy Steve Bannon, who cried when he got fired and begged for his job. Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone. Too bad!
It wouldn't be the last time that Trump would call his former adviser and the founder of Breitbart 'sloppy.'
Trump also told reporters at the time, in reference to Bannon, “When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.”
It seems flattery will get you everywhere and Bannon is now firmly back in Trump’s good books but Twitter users with long term memories were more than happy to remind the president of what he had called Bannon in the not so distant past.
@realDonaldTrump One of your best pupils? 😅😂🤣🤮 Since you call him "Sloppy Steve," I'd hate to see what you call your worst pupil!— Rob (@Rob) 1564787266
@realDonaldTrump I thought you & “Sloppy Steve” broke up?— Loud & Proud (@Loud & Proud) 1564787473
@realDonaldTrump #DonaldTrump trashed Steve Bannon when he left the White House, now they are besties?? 😳— Jules Morgan 🇺🇸🌺 (@Jules Morgan 🇺🇸🌺) 1564779459
@realDonaldTrump Good thing you didn’t call him Sloppy Steve or anything.— Sleeping Giants (@Sleeping Giants) 1564779507
Trump on Steve Bannon, a play in three acts. https://t.co/DY21o7w7ig— Brian Klaas (@Brian Klaas) 1564780298
More: Steve Bannon was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 and people are furious
More: Trump said Bannon lost his mind when he left the White House. It backfired badly