Steve Bannon fights 'propaganda' accusations over his new film about Donald Trump

Showtime’s The Circus returned Sunday, with co-host John Heilemann sitting down with Steve Bannon after viewing part of Bannon’s new film, Trump @war. The film opens with repeated imagery of violence directed at Donald Trump supporters, and Heilemann was quick to criticize the message.

“Essentially, you gotta vote Republican to keep Trump in office,” Heilemann said. “If you don’t do that, black-hooded … rioters will run roughshod over the streets of America.

Bannon, the former White House chief strategist under Trump, defended the film, which is airing on the One America news network. He said it is meant to energize the GOP — which he argued has become complacent — ahead of the midterm elections in November.

“The people in the resistance — they will be there to impeach him,” Bannon said of Democrats going after Trump. “This midterm is the existential threat. I think we’re the first guys to come out and get the messaging right. The troops are out there. They’re waiting for somebody to say, ‘All hands on deck.’”

How the film will affect the Republican base remains to be seen, but Heilemann does have one prediction about it.

“I know Trump will like it,” Heilemann joked to a somewhat blushing Bannon. “Maybe you’ll get phone calls returned occasionally now.”

The Circus airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Showtime.

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