Bannon, Carlson and... Liz Truss? Exploring the One-Time PM's Attempt for Maga

Britain's shortest-serving prime minister, began the premiere of her video series with a pledge to unmask "malicious actors" working to bring down Britain, the US and Europe. She explained she would reveal how an "international network of leftists function to subvert democracy and the public's choice."

"We will examine the Maga phenomenon and observe how this can be replicated in Britain," she said. "We will interview the key figures of the Make America Great Again campaign."

Before the series premiere, there was one particularly enthusiastic supporter. "This is the beginning of a sort of transformation," said veteran reporter John Solomon. The right-leaning Just the News will carry the ex-PM's new broadcasts.

Building Connections in the Maga Media Ecosystem

Compatriot supporters, including a pro-Reform adviser, played a role in her launch the Truss's program. The setup is professional, though simple. The show has attracted 10,000 subscribers in her initial seven days and her premiere had sixty-seven thousand views in that timeframe.

This represents a humble beginning, but in partnering with John Solomon, the former PM is being pushed into a established right-wing media network generating and disseminating Maga talking points. Its obsessions involve claims of media suppression by the mainstream media and a aim to eradicate a shadowy government apparatus – which she attributes her downfall to for the swift end of her short and troubled leadership.

"The platform is not widely recognized past the Maga world, but it does have influence there, largely because of its founder, who gives commentary on conservative outlets like Bannon's 'War Room' podcast and has even questioned Trump," said Professor Alex Hinton, who has extensively researched the Make America Great Again phenomenon.

A Divisive Associate

The former PM's foray to import American conservative media to Britain has pushed her closer to controversial figures such as John Solomon.

He set up Just the News after criticism when allegations surfaced of promoting false stories about Biden's anti-corruption work in the Eastern European nation, as well as disputed reports about the former US ambassador to Ukraine.

These allegations were echoed across the pro-Trump outlets, with the journalist appearing as a common interviewee on Sean Hannity's influential Fox News program. Trump himself promoted the journalist's work.

Solomon made the reports about Ukraine in a number of opinion pieces for the publication the Hill, where he had already been moved to a columnist role when staffers raised concerns about his work. His claims were central in the then-president's request for the officials in Kyiv to probe the Bidens in 2019. These actions resulted in articles of impeachment targeting Donald Trump. The US Senate later found not guilty the then-president.

Weeks after the journalist departed the publication in autumn 2019, the news organization announced it was performing a review of his columns about Ukraine. It determined Solomon had relied on unreliable sources and stated he "omitted key facts about main Ukrainian informants, such as the fact that they had been formally accused or were the subject of inquiries."

Entering the Ecosystem

His TV and radio guest spots are a example of the right-wing media network Liz Truss is entering. He discussed his endorsement of the program on a show he co-hosts on the conservative cable network, a rightwing cable channel that is the base for the conservative firebrand Steve Bannon and on which Tucker Carlson also features. The ex-PM has already hosted Steve Bannon on an early episode.

In linking up with the journalist and his outlet, Truss has become a minor player in a broader ecosystem of pro-Trump platforms that often cross-promote stories.

Solomon's own programs have often featured personalities such as influencer Mike Benz, a conservative commentator whose disparagement of the US Agency for International Development was cited by Elon Musk as justification for dismantling the government body.

A Global Media Play

Even though the former PM's unnatural presentation and career difficulties have been mocked at home, a number of stateside commentators are not discounting her bid to reinvent herself as a local version of the pro-Trump media ecosystem.

"One must regard individuals such as her seriously, despite the fact that you may not want to accept their words at face value," commented Rob Flaherty, who served in the Obama White House.

"Observers witnessed how in the last election cycle the former president utilized that media network to get his message out. Certainly that sphere spreads and shapes discourse abroad. It appears fairly obvious to me that the environment in the Britain are comparable to what enabled this non-mainstream media network to flourish in America."

Professor Alan Finlayson, said the internet-based conservative network was already making its presence felt in the UK.

"Online platforms knows no borders," Finlayson remarked. "There is a certain environment within which content circulates – sometimes appearing in harsh versions and occasionally in softer tones – but which is interlinked."

The academic said the expansion of the online right in the United Kingdom recently meant the "chance to have a growing impact is significant."

Global Goals

"Liz Truss along with the Reform UK leader not long ago appeared at the the major conservative conference, where I observed they echoed Make America Great Again rhetoric before the {king of Maga|

Joy Skinner
Joy Skinner

A software engineer and tech writer passionate about AI advancements and cybersecurity trends, based in London.