Bannon's War Room – Episode 4733: Remembering Abbey Gate; Open Up Opportunities For Americans

Date: August 26, 2025
Host: Steve Bannon
Guests: Pete Hegseth, Trita Parsi, Brandon Weikart, others

Episode Overview

This episode marks the fourth anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, where 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghans lost their lives. Bannon uses the occasion to reflect on lessons not learned from America’s wars of the 21st century, the lack of accountability among political and military leaders, and the enduring costs for the American volunteer force. The episode also delves into U.S. immigration and visa policy debates, the impact of foreign students on American universities, and critiques of current and past military interventions—especially the ongoing issues with U.S. foreign involvement in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Remembering the Abbey Gate Fallen

• Tribute and Roll Call
  • [01:27-05:36] A solemn reading commemorates each of the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Abbey Gate bombing, reflecting on their lives, families, and sacrifices.
  • Notable quote:

    “She was full of light, armed with valor and bravery… who at the young age of 18 decided to raise her hand to serve our country.” (Memorial Narrator on Sgt. Joanne Rosario Picardo, 01:28)

  • Emphasis on the tragedy and individual humanity of those lost.

2. Lack of Accountability for Afghanistan and Iraq Wars

• Ongoing Investigation
  • [00:00-01:02] Pete Hegseth opens by discussing a comprehensive Pentagon investigation led by Sean Parnell, aiming for truth and accountability in the Afghanistan withdrawal.
  • Bannon expresses skepticism Iover the length and seriousness of the process:

    "So they're taking their time to do it. Okay, that's good. It seems a little long, but if that's what it takes, that's what it takes." (Steve Bannon, 06:51)

• Systemic Critique
  • [05:36-12:30] Bannon questions whether actual lessons have been learned regarding interventionist nation-building wars (Afghanistan, Iraq) as opposed to legitimate counterterrorism efforts.
  • He criticizes persistent media presence and lack of consequences for architects of these wars:

    “You see the same proponents of this failed strategy just non stop on television and never held accountable.” (Steve Bannon, 06:08)

  • Calls for an annual day of commemoration (August 26) for the modern wars and stresses that all these were volunteer soldiers, not draftees.

3. The Volunteer Force: Sacrifice and Disillusionment

• [19:57-24:00] Bannon laments what awaits returning service members: homelessness, PTSD, lack of job opportunities, and an overwhelmed VA system.
  • Notable quote:

    "You served your country in a foreign land, some godforsaken hellhole and what's your deal when you come back? Oh, homelessness and a VA that doesn't work and suicide, PTSD and no job." (Steve Bannon, 26:10)

4. Visa Programs, Immigration, and American Opportunity

• Foreign Students and H1B Visas Debate
  • [17:56-25:00] Panelists discuss the presence of 600,000 Chinese students in U.S. universities, critiquing the economic and security rationale for their continued acceptance.
  • Bannon rails against the H1B visa program, stating it's designed to undercut American workers:

    "The H1B visa is to take the job of those 13 young people that died in defense of their country at Abbey Gate." (Steve Bannon, 24:51)

  • Critique that current programs benefit elite institutions and foreign interests rather than ordinary Americans; argument to eliminate or severely restrict foreign student and H1B visas until broader systemic issues are addressed.
  • Notable quote:

    "All the visa programs are scams. Let me repeat this. All of them." (Steve Bannon, 24:56)

  • Bannon's solution: drastically cut visa programs, prioritize American talent, and attach an "exit visa" to all foreign student diplomas.

5. Broader Military Strategy and the NDAA

• [12:30-15:00, 25:12-28:13] Bannon critiques the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), its obligatory nature, and disconnect from articulated U.S. strategy of hemispheric defense.
  • Points out the costs and inefficiencies in authorizing massive defense budgets not matched by updated strategic rationales.

6. Current and Prospective Conflicts Abroad

• Ukraine War
  • [29:36-35:40] Bannon argues the U.S. and European approach to Ukraine is unsustainable, pointing to massive casualties, economic burdens on U.S. taxpayers, and lack of European responsibility.
  • Quotes casualty numbers: “Now we know from sources…1.7 million Ukrainians dead and wounded. This is why 625,000 this year…they’re getting crushed.” (Steve Bannon, 32:10)
• Persian/Iran War Prospects & Israel’s Role
  • [35:40-43:18] Conversation with Trita Parsi about the likelihood of renewed conflict with Iran, Israel’s motivation, and U.S. vulnerabilities:
    • Parsi:

      “The Israelis now are under their own pressure to finish it and do so before the Iranians rebuild their air defense systems…they will try everything in their power again to drag the US into that war.” (Trita Parsi, 37:20)

    • Discusses how prolonging or shifting warfronts may serve the political survival of leaders like Netanyahu.
    • The concern that U.S. military resources are depleted is echoed by Brandon Weikart:

      “We have not restored our own stockpiles…especially now with Ukraine still going on and this thing with Venezuela popping off soon.” (Brandon Weikart, 50:43)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On accountability and memory:

  “Accountability goes a long way to honoring the dead in section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery to show them that your life had some meaning.” (Steve Bannon, 29:36)

• On the futility of regime change:

  “You get into a regime change war in Persia, you're going to be there for 30 years.” (Steve Bannon, 52:45)

• On U.S. global engagement:

  “We should be trying to get out of the Middle East as fast as possible and worry about our own hemisphere.” (Brandon Weikart, 51:31)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00-01:02 | Hegseth introduces Afghanistan investigation and demand for accountability | | 01:27-05:36 | Memorial roll call for Abbey Gate’s fallen | | 05:36-12:30 | Bannon’s reassessment of Afghan/Iraq wars, failures, and media complicity | | 17:56-25:11 | Panel on foreign students, visa policy, and consequences for Americans | | 25:12-28:13 | Bannon’s solution to visa/immigration issues—"full stop, boom"—push to restrict opportunities to Americans | | 29:36-35:40 | U.S./NATO support to Ukraine, European free-riding, and American taxpayers shouldering the cost | | 35:40-43:18 | Middle East: Israeli aims, dangers of being pulled into Iran conflict (with Trita Parsi) | | 46:37-51:39 | Prospects and triggers of renewed conflict with Iran (Parsi and Weikart) |

Conclusion

Bannon and guests used the Abbey Gate anniversary as a platform to challenge official and media narratives on U.S. interventions and to advocate for renewed emphasis on accountability, American opportunity, and a strategic retrenchment from avoidable foreign entanglements. The show is skeptical about military and government leadership, harshly critical of immigration and visa systems, and unapologetically nationalist in economic and defense orientation. The warnings about future wars—especially regime-change crusades in the Middle East—are direct, strident, and unvarnished.

End of Summary