Many of those who believe former President Donald Trump's lies that the 2020 election was "stolen" from him are also under the delusion that Trump's election fantasies will soon be vindicated, resulting in him somehow being reinstated to the presidency. Of course, there is no constitutional process other than reelection for a former President to be reinstated to the nation's highest office.
A key promoter of the reinstatement theory is pillow salesman and prominent conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell, who has offered specific dates for Trump's reinstatement, each date passing uneventfully.
Lindell is a frequent guest on white nationalist and former Trump official Steve Bannon's talk show. Though Bannon has expressed skepticism at the reinstatement fantasy in the past, he recently endorsed the theory in a deranged rant.
Watch below.
Steve Bannon backing the idea of a Trump reinstatement, says that the "return of Trump" will be in "2022 or maybe before."pic.twitter.com/sxneKCHp8i— Zachary Petrizzo (@Zachary Petrizzo) 1633705615
Bannon said:
"The return of Trump—and it ain't gonna be in 2024—it's gonna be in 2022 or maybe before, as we start the decertification process out in Arizona."
The decertification process Bannon is referring to is nonexistent. The partisan audit he mentions in Arizona saw Biden's victory margin widen over Trump's and predictably found no evidence of widespread fraud. This hasn't stopped other Republican state legislatures from launching audits designed to undermine the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
People were quick to call out Bannon's conspiracy theory.
Here\u2019s Steve just saying whatever crazy stuff his people want to hearpic.twitter.com/dB7mjTavL3— Molly Jong-Fast (@Molly Jong-Fast) 1633706890
Is any Democrat actually afraid of Trump being re-instated? It's a perfect issue - excites a faction of MAGA folks while baffling the people it's meant to scarehttps://twitter.com/ZTPetrizzo/status/1446492309403709441\u00a0\u2026— Dave Weigel (@Dave Weigel) 1633705829
Yet another example of Bannon psychological warfare. 2024 is WAY too far away to keep people agitated and angry and keep the Trumpcult alive. Building expectation of a return of Leader is key, also to encourage inflow of funds and prevent rival Repubs from gaining ground.https://twitter.com/ZTPetrizzo/status/1446492309403709441\u00a0\u2026— Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@Ruth Ben-Ghiat) 1633709244
This guy worked for Donald Trump, worked in the White House, channels where most of the GOP base is, and still advises many Republican Members of Congress. Don\u2019t laugh.https://twitter.com/ztpetrizzo/status/1446492309403709441\u00a0\u2026— Joe Walsh (@Joe Walsh) 1633707287
if you didn't think they were anti-American, anti-Constitutional fascists before, you have no excuse nowhttps://twitter.com/ZTPetrizzo/status/1446492309403709441\u00a0\u2026— el jefe (@el jefe) 1633705741
This is even more dangerous than it sounds because they know that even if the election were decertified, Trump would not be reinstalled. They are talking about armed insurrection and cloaking it in election challenges.https://twitter.com/ZTPetrizzo/status/1446492309403709441\u00a0\u2026— crunchyrugger (@crunchyrugger) 1633708069
It's a grift.
He knows this isn\u2019t true. But he also knows that the people who listen to his show believe that, and will continue to tune in as long as he keeps saying it.https://twitter.com/ztpetrizzo/status/1446492309403709441\u00a0\u2026— Mike Gonzalez (@Mike Gonzalez) 1633714817
"Trump will be reinstated on so-and-so date" is just a modern-day "Jesus will rise again on so-and-so date" grift.https://twitter.com/ZTPetrizzo/status/1446492309403709441\u00a0\u2026— P\u00e9 (@P\u00e9) 1633707383
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS REINSTATEMENT!https://twitter.com/ZTPetrizzo/status/1446492309403709441\u00a0\u2026— Paulette Feeney (@Paulette Feeney) 1633714074
Bannon's comments come as he's defying a congressional subpoena to investigate his role in the deadly failed insurrection that sparked from the same election fantasies he's touting.
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