Bannon Labels Zuckerberg a Criminal, Calls for Investigation Into 2020 Election

Steve Bannon, former adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, called Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg a criminal during an interview on ABC’s This Week with Jonathan Karl. The discussion revolved around tech leaders’ relationships with Trump and their attendance at Monday’s inauguration.

Bannon asserted that Trump had “broken the oligarchs” and claimed they had “surrendered.” When asked by Karl whether he believed in Zuckerberg’s supposed political “conversion,” Bannon emphatically replied, “Absolutely not. I think Mark Zuckerberg is a criminal.”

Bannon criticized Zuckerberg for his role in funding election boards through a nonprofit during the 2020 election.

The contributions, labeled “Zuckerbucks” by Republicans, were intended to be nonpartisan, according to Zuckerberg. However, critics argue they were unfairly allocated to areas that favored Democrats.

“I want to see Zuckerberg properly adjudicated,” Bannon said, proposing a systematic investigation by the House or, preferably, through a grand jury and special prosecutor. He suggested a thorough examination of the 2020 election to determine whether any wrongdoing occurred.

“If there’s nothing there, there’s nothing there,” he added, clarifying that he was not explicitly calling for the Justice Department under Trump to prosecute Zuckerberg.

Bannon expressed skepticism about Zuckerberg’s loyalty, saying, “He will flip on us in a second when it’s convenient for him.” His remarks align with previous statements in which he accused Zuckerberg of being untrustworthy and perpetuated unfounded claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

The timing of Bannon’s comments coincides with Zuckerberg’s recent activities, including a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund and his attendance at meetings with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Additionally, Zuckerberg will host a black-tie reception on Jan. 20 after Trump’s inauguration.

The relationship between Zuckerberg and Trump has drawn scrutiny as Meta faces criticism over its handling of election-related content.

Bannon’s call for a formal investigation adds to mounting Republican demands for accountability regarding the 2020 election’s administration and Zuckerberg’s role in funding election operations.