Bannon Plotted With Epstein to 'Take Down' Pope Francis

Former Trump adviser discussed opposition strategies against the Catholic Church leader

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Steve Bannon, a former White House adviser to President Trump, told disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein that he wished to 'take down' Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church. The exchange came years after Epstein served a light sentence for his 2008 conviction for child sex offenses and just days before Epstein would be arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in New York.

Why it matters

This revelation highlights the political divisions and animosity between certain conservative figures like Bannon and the more progressive Pope Francis, who has advocated for migrants and criticized nationalism. It also raises questions about the extent of Bannon and Epstein's relationship and their efforts to undermine the Catholic Church.

The details

In June 2019, Bannon wrote to Epstein: 'Will take down Francis. The Clintons, Xi, Francis, EU – come on brother.' This exchange came just days before Epstein's arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. Bannon also referenced the book 'In the Closet of the Vatican,' which exposed much of the secrecy and hypocrisy at the highest levels of the Catholic Church.

  • In June 2019, Bannon wrote to Epstein about taking down Pope Francis.
  • In April 2019, Epstein emailed himself 'in the closet of the vatican' and sent Bannon an article titled 'Pope Francis or Steve Bannon? Catholics must choose'.

The players

Steve Bannon

A former White House adviser to President Trump and a leading figure behind the MAGA movement.

Jeffrey Epstein

A disgraced financier who was convicted of child sex offenses in 2008 and later arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in 2019.

Pope Francis

The current leader of the Catholic Church, who has advocated for migrants and been a strong critic of nationalism.

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What they’re saying

“Will take down Francis. The Clintons, Xi, Francis, EU – come on brother.”

— Steve Bannon, Former White House Adviser (CNN)

What’s next

It remains unclear how serious Bannon was about his proposal to 'take out' the leader of the largest religion in the world. Epstein, for his part, does not directly respond to Bannon's threat and asks him an unrelated question about the famous professor Noam Chomsky.

The takeaway

This case highlights the deep political divisions and animosity between certain conservative figures like Bannon and the more progressive Pope Francis, as well as the extent of Bannon and Epstein's relationship and their efforts to undermine the Catholic Church.