Steve Bannon, a prominent conservative commentator and former advisor to Donald Trump, made inflammatory remarks suggesting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents should surround polling places during the November elections to prevent what he described as election theft. In his statement, Bannon asserted, “We’re going to have ICE surround the polls come November. We’re not going to let you steal the country…We will never again allow an election to be stolen again.” This rhetoric aligns with ongoing claims by some Republicans that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent, particularly in battleground states like Georgia. Bannon’s call for ICE involvement at polls raises concerns about voter intimidation and the militarization of election processes, as federal law prohibits armed personnel from interfering at voting sites unless under specific circumstances.
Bannon’s comments were tied to allegations of election irregularities in Fulton County, Georgia, where he and others claim evidence proves the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. However, extensive investigations, audits, and court rulings have repeatedly debunked widespread fraud in Fulton County and across Georgia. Recent developments, including an FBI seizure of 2020 ballots and records from a Fulton County election facility in January 2026 under the Trump administration, appear aimed at revisiting these claims. Critics argue this move is politically motivated to undermine confidence in elections, as no new credible evidence of theft has emerged despite multiple recounts and legal challenges confirming Joe Biden’s victory in the state by a narrow margin.
In a separate but related escalation of political rhetoric, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) criticized ICE tactics during a House Judiciary Committee session, suggesting that citizens might be justified in defending themselves against perceived “masked hoodlums” or “goons” if they believed they were under attack. Nadler’s remarks, which included the hypothetical of shooting in self-defense if mistaken for a kidnapping, were framed as a condemnation of aggressive federal enforcement actions under the Trump administration. While not explicitly tied to Bannon’s poll-surrounding proposal, Nadler’s comments have drawn sharp rebukes from figures like Vice President JD Vance, who accused him of inciting violence against federal agents. This exchange highlights the deepening partisan divide over immigration enforcement and election integrity.
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