Epstein files shed more light on Steve Bannon’s efforts to influence European politics

The messages mostly date to 2018 and 2019, when Bannon, after being sacked by Mr Trump, regularly visited Europe in his quest to forge a movement in the European parliament

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026 - 08:35

Angela Giuffrida in Rome, Deborah Cole in Berlin and Angelique Chrisafis in Paris

Dozens of messages contained in the latest tranche of Epstein files lay bare the attempts by Donald Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon to tap Jeffrey Epstein for support and funding to bolster European far-right parties.

The messages mostly date to 2018 and 2019, when Bannon, after being sacked by Mr Trump, regularly visited Europe in his quest to forge a movement in the European parliament uniting ultra-right-wing and Eurosceptic forces from several countries, including Italy, Germany, France, Hungary, Poland, Sweden and Austria.