Steve Bannon warned the Trump administration about “not paying attention” to the political happenings in South Korea.
Drawing attention to headlines over the nation’s election of left-wing leader Lee Jae-myung, the former Trump White House aide said on his War Room podcast that the White House and State Department were “asleep on the watch” over the changes in South Korea and warned that “payback is gonna be bad.”
BANNON: The new CCP-backed South Korean leadership gave two “FU’s” to the United States.
Firstly, they announced they are in no rush to agree to a trade deal.
And second, they will continue to strengthen ties with the CCP. pic.twitter.com/d55HL1j0Rg
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) June 4, 2025
“You heard there at the end about the Korea situation we’ve been covering. The winner got 48 and a half or 49% of the vote,” Bannon said, holding up the front page headline of the Financial Times that read, “South Korea trusts in end to turmoil with Lee’s sweeping election victory.”
“Sweeping election victory,” Bannon reiterated.
“And right there, for those in the State Department not paying attention or the White House have not been paying attention to this, they gave two F-Us. Number one, we’re going to take our time on a, you know, we are not going to be the first guys. And we’re going to take our time on a trade deal,” Bannon continued.
“President Trump put out another ultimatum, I think last night, or Bessent or Lutnick, hey, we need them all in like immediately. They’re under new ownership in South Korea,” Bannon added.
“And yeah, we’re gonna have, under the table, we got step-by-step better relationships with Beijing. Everybody that was asleep on the watch on this thing, payback is gonna be bad, folks,” he warned. “Gonna be bad. Just one of many things.”
Lee won the election in South Korea to replace former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was impeached. The far left leader survived a stabbing attempt last year and is the nation’s fifth president in the past six months.
“No matter whom you supported in this election, I will serve as a president for all to embrace and serve every citizen,” he said in remarks following his inauguration on Wednesday.
“We will strengthen South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation based on a solid Korea-U.S. alliance and approach relations with neighboring countries from the perspective of practicality and national interest,” he said, according to a translation by the Yonhap News Agency. “We will open channels of communication and pursue dialogue and cooperation with the North to build lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.