Bannon, Carlson and... Liz Truss? A Look Inside the One-Time PM's Attempt for Make America Great Again
Britain's shortest-serving prime minister, launched the inaugural episode of her online program with a pledge to expose "those with ill intent" attempting to weaken Britain, the US and Europe. Truss elaborated she would reveal how an "international network of leftists work to undermine democracy and the electorate's mandate."
"We're going to look at the Maga phenomenon and understand how it can be achieved in Britain," the former PM stated. "Our guests will include the leading lights of the Make America Great Again campaign."
Before the series premiere, there was one particularly enthusiastic supporter. "This is the beginning of a kind of political shift," stated John Solomon. His conservative media outlet Just the News will host the former prime minister's new broadcasts.
Establishing Ties in the Maga Media Ecosystem
British fellow travellers, such as a counselor supportive of Reform, have also helped her set up the her new show. Its staging is professional, if basic. Truss has amassed 10,000 subscribers in her first week and her premiere garnered 67,000 views during that week.
This represents a humble beginning, but in aligning with John Solomon, the former PM is being entering a established conservative ecosystem producing and amplifying pro-Trump narratives. Key fixations include accusations of information control by the mainstream media and a aim to eradicate a conspiratorial 'deep state' – which the ex-PM holds responsible for the rapid conclusion of her short and troubled leadership.
"Just the News is not widely recognized past the Maga-verse, but it does have influence there, primarily thanks to Solomon, who gives commentary on pro-Trump shows like Bannon's 'War Room' podcast and has even questioned the former president," noted Professor Alex Hinton, who has closely studied the Trumpist political wave.
A Divisive Associate
Her effort to transplant American conservative media to the UK has pushed her closer to contentious individuals such as John Solomon.
He founded the platform in the wake of scrutiny when allegations surfaced of promoting inaccurate reports about the President's actions in the Eastern European nation, as well as disputed reports about one-time diplomat to the region.
These allegations were echoed across the pro-Trump media, with Solomon appearing as a frequent visitor on the widely-watched Fox News program. The former president personally endorsed the journalist's work.
He wrote the reports about Ukraine in a series of columns for the outlet the Hill, after having been moved to a columnist role following internal criticism regarding his reporting. His claims were central in Trump's demand for the officials in Kyiv to look into the Bidens in that year. Those demands culminated in impeachment charges targeting Donald Trump. Senators later acquitted the commander-in-chief.
Weeks after he exited the newspaper in October 2019, the publication revealed it was performing a review of his work concerning the Ukraine issue. It found Solomon had cited unreliable sources and noted he "failed to identify crucial information about primary contacts in Ukraine, specifically the fact that they had been indicted or were the subject of inquiries."
Entering the Ecosystem
His media appearances are a indication of the right-wing media network the former prime minister is entering. He talked about his support for Truss's project on a program he presents on the right-wing channel, a conservative television outlet that is where you find the conservative firebrand former adviser Steve Bannon and on which commentator Tucker Carlson also is seen. The ex-PM has already interviewed the political operative on one of her first podcasts.
In linking up with the journalist and his outlet, she has become a minor player in a broader ecosystem of pro-Trump platforms that often share and promote one another's material.
His personal programs have frequently included figures such as Mike Benz, a rightwing influencer whose disparagement of the US Agency for International Development was cited by Elon Musk as justification for dismantling the international development organization.
An International Strategy
While the former PM's unnatural presentation and professional woes have invited ridicule within the UK, a number of stateside commentators do not dismiss her attempts to rebrand as a local version of the Maga media.
"It is necessary to treat people like Truss with seriousness, although you may not want to interpret them word-for-word," stated a Democratic strategist, who was employed in the Biden administration.
"It was evident how in 2024 Donald Trump utilized that media network to spread his narrative. Undoubtedly that ecosystem transmits and affects debate overseas. It appears quite apparent to me that the circumstances in the UK are akin to what allowed this alternative media ecosystem to prosper in America."
Alan Finlayson, said the internet-based conservative network was already making its presence felt in Britain.
"The internet knows no borders," he stated. "There is a certain environment within which ideas travel – sometimes appearing in harsh versions and occasionally in softer tones – but which is networked."
Professor Hinton said the rise of the digital conservative movement in the United Kingdom in recent times meant the "possibility to have a increasing influence is considerable."
Global Goals
"Both Truss and the Reform UK leader recently appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where I observed they deployed Make America Great Again rhetoric ahead of the {king of Maga|