Bannon's Bombshell: Did Trump Operative RIG Australian Elections? Palmer DENIES!

Steve Bannon boasts he orchestrated Clive Palmer's $60 million Australian election blitz. Was our democracy hijacked by a foreign operative? Palmer vehemently denies the bombshell claim.
By Newsroom | Politics, Australia |

The whispers started from leaked documents, a digital ghost hinting at a far-reaching influence. Steve Bannon, former strategist to Donald Trump and a figure synonymous with aggressive political campaigning, has claimed he was the mastermind behind Clive Palmer's massive, and ultimately unsuccessful, 2019 Australian federal election advertising blitz. This bombshell revelation, surfacing from the infamous Epstein files, has ignited a firestorm of questions about the integrity of our democratic processes and the potential for foreign actors to manipulate them. But the story is far from simple, with Clive Palmer himself vehemently denying any such collaboration.

The implications are profound. If Bannon's claims hold water, it suggests a sophisticated, foreign-backed operation aimed at not just influencing voters, but potentially swinging an election outcome. How did this alleged influence manifest? What was the true nature of the communication between Bannon and Palmer? And crucially, does this incident reveal a vulnerability in Australia's electoral system that needs urgent attention? This investigation delves into the claims, the denials, and the unsettling context of foreign interference in democratic nations.

The 2019 Election: A Tale of Two Campaigns and a Controversial Pivot

The 2019 Australian federal election was a seismic event, famously defying most polls by returning the Coalition government under Scott Morrison. Amidst this national drama, billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party (UAP) unleashed an unprecedented advertising campaign, spending an estimated $60 million (Article 1). The UAP's message, often delivered with overwhelming force via television, radio, and SMS, was a potent mix of anti-China sentiment and climate change skepticism, alongside attacks on the Labor Party.

Read More: Trump Disagrees with Federalist Society, Judge Stops His Courtroom Talk

Australian politics live: Clive Palmer says Bannon ‘lied’ by purportedly claiming to be behind his 2019 ad campaign - 1

  • Massive Spending: Palmer's UAP spent $60 million, a significant sum for a minor party, in the 2019 election (Article 1, Article 5, Article 6).

  • Targeted Messaging: The campaign focused on themes like anti-China sentiment and climate change skepticism, as well as direct attacks on Labor leader Bill Shorten.

  • Election Outcome: Despite the UAP's extensive advertising, the party failed to win any seats in the 2019 election (Article 6). However, then-Labor leader Bill Shorten has suggested Palmer's advertising strategy may have contributed to his downfall.

  • Shorten's Perspective: Shorten stated that Bannon’s texts about Palmer indicated that "he must have been doing something right" in disrupting the election narrative (Article 2).

A week before election day, The Guardian reports that Palmer himself admitted to pivoting his strategy in the final weeks, explicitly aiming to "polarise the electorate" and damage Labor's chances (Article 1). This pivot, coupled with aggressive messaging, reportedly resulted in focus group participants describing Palmer in highly negative terms, which The Guardian suggests may explain the UAP's poor vote share, while simultaneously impacting Shorten's leadership standing.

Bannon's Brag: The Leaked Messages and the Denials

The core of the current controversy lies in messages attributed to Steve Bannon, reportedly sent two days after the 2019 Australian election. These messages, revealed in the Epstein files, state: "I had Clive Palmer do the $60 million anti china and climate change ads" (Article 1). This direct assertion places Bannon at the alleged helm of Palmer's electoral strategy.

Read More: Protests in Melbourne During Israeli President's Visit

However, Clive Palmer has emphatically rejected these claims. His media spokesperson, Andrew Crook, responded to Bannon's assertions via text message, stating that Bannon "lied" (Article 1). Palmer's legal team has also highlighted that the leaked files are fragmented and do not constitute findings of fact, nor do they demonstrate any instructions or a plan, arguing that the files "do not prove the claim" (Article 3). Palmer is an Australian citizen and has a history of funding extensive ad campaigns in Australian elections, which is a crucial distinction in the context of foreign interference laws (Article 3).

Australian politics live: Clive Palmer says Bannon ‘lied’ by purportedly claiming to be behind his 2019 ad campaign - 2

  • Bannon's Claim: Bannon allegedly claimed to have directed Palmer's $60 million ad spend.

  • Palmer's Rebuttal: Palmer denies Bannon's claims, calling them a lie.

  • Legal Caveats: Palmer's representatives point out the limitations of the leaked files, stating they do not prove Bannon's claims.

  • Australian Citizenship: Palmer is an Australian citizen, a fact emphasized to counter foreign influence arguments.

Read More: Lawmakers Question Attorney General Bondi on Epstein Files

This stark contradiction leaves us with a critical question: Who is telling the truth, and what evidence truly underpins these opposing narratives?

Foreign Interference: A Grey Area in Australian Law?

The potential for foreign interference in democratic elections is a growing global concern. Australia has laws in place, such as the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS), designed to monitor and regulate activities undertaken on behalf of foreign principals that aim to influence political or governmental matters.

Brendan Walker-Munro, an associate professor specializing in foreign interference, offers a measured perspective. He suggests that even if Bannon's alleged communication with Palmer were proven accurate, it might not necessarily fall foul of Australia's current foreign interference laws. This is primarily because Walker-Munro points to the FITS definition, which typically requires “registrable activities” like lobbying or communications conducted on behalf of a "foreign principal" (Article 2).

Read More: Many Protests Happen in Australian Cities

Australian politics live: Clive Palmer says Bannon ‘lied’ by purportedly claiming to be behind his 2019 ad campaign - 3

  • Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS): Aims to ensure transparency in political donations and lobbying.

  • Registrable Activities: Typically involves direct lobbying, communications, or financial disbursements for a foreign principal to influence Australian politics.

  • Walker-Munro's Analysis: Suggests that alleged communication between Bannon and Palmer might not meet the legal threshold for registrable foreign interference.

  • Palmer's Nationality: Crucially, Clive Palmer is an Australian citizen, which complicates the "foreign principal" aspect of the FITS.

This raises a fundamental question: If a foreign operative, even one with significant influence, orchestrates or advises on a massive domestic political campaign through an Australian citizen, does that still constitute foreign interference if the communication isn't formally registered under FITS? Furthermore, what about the spirit of the law, if not the letter? Are there other avenues through which foreign influence can seep into our elections, even if not explicitly covered by current legislation?

Palmer's Political Spending: A Pattern of Big Bets, Small Returns

This alleged Bannon connection is not the first time Clive Palmer's substantial political spending has drawn scrutiny. Over more than a decade and across five federal elections, Palmer has reportedly spent upwards of a quarter of a billion dollars in an attempt to influence Australian politics (Article 5). His political ventures, including the Palmer United Party and later the United Australia Party, have seen him secure a few senators and a single term in the House of Representatives for himself.

Read More: Congress Leader Accuses Finance Minister of Lying to Parliament About WTO Deal

However, the electoral returns on this colossal investment have been minimal. In the 2025 federal election, Palmer's "Trumpet of Patriots" party fielded candidates in all lower house seats and the Senate, backed by a record-breaking advertising blitz. Yet, the party failed to win a single seat, mirroring the outcome of the 2019 election despite similar massive expenditure (Article 6).

Australian politics live: Clive Palmer says Bannon ‘lied’ by purportedly claiming to be behind his 2019 ad campaign - 4

  • Total Investment: Over $250 million spent across multiple elections.

  • Electoral Success: Secured four senators (two of whom later defected) and one term for Palmer himself (2013-2016).

  • Recent Failures: The "Trumpet of Patriots" party won no seats in the 2025 election, despite significant advertising.

  • "Trumpet of Patriots": Palmer's most recent party, launched with a stated aim to "make Australia great again" (Article 7), echoing a Trump slogan.

This pattern of massive spending with little electoral gain begs several questions. Is Palmer's primary motivation electoral success, or is it something else – perhaps an attempt to disrupt established political narratives, gain media attention, or promote specific policy agendas? And if his parties are consistently failing to secure parliamentary representation, what does this ongoing, multi-million dollar investment signify?

Echoes of Trumpism: A Global Playbook?

The involvement of Steve Bannon, a figure deeply entrenched in the Trump orbit, cannot be ignored. Bannon's association with Donald Trump's 2016 US presidential campaign and his subsequent role in promoting a nationalist, populist agenda globally suggests a consistent ideological approach. Palmer's own foray into politics has, at times, mirrored this playbook, particularly with the launch of his "Trumpet of Patriots" party and its slogan "make Australia great again" (Article 7).

Read More: Barbeques Galore Stores Close After Company Faces Money Problems

This global connection raises concerns about whether foreign political strategies and ideologies are being imported into Australian elections. Bannon's alleged involvement in the 2019 campaign, if true, could be seen as an extension of this international political operation, aiming to influence not just Australian voters but also to shape geopolitical narratives, particularly concerning China.

  • Bannon's Background: Key strategist in Donald Trump's 2016 US election campaign, known for promoting misinformation.

  • Palmer's "Trumpet of Patriots": A party launched with the slogan "make Australia great again," a direct echo of Trump's campaign.

  • Shared Themes: Anti-China sentiment and skepticism towards climate change policies align with common talking points in populist, nationalist movements.

  • Potential Global Strategy: The alleged collaboration could represent a broader international effort by Bannon to influence elections in aligned nations.

The question is: How much of Clive Palmer's political messaging and strategy was genuinely his own, and how much was influenced by external, potentially foreign, advice or direction? And if this influence was indeed present, what does it say about the vulnerability of our political discourse to international actors with their own agendas?

The Unanswered Questions and the Path Forward

The Bannon-Palmer saga, shrouded in denials and fueled by leaked fragments, leaves more questions than answers.

Read More: Keir Starmer Faces Questions After Top Civil Servant Leaves and Controversial Appointments

  • Truth of the Claim: Was Steve Bannon genuinely orchestrating Clive Palmer's $60 million advertising campaign, or is this a boastful exaggeration from leaked documents?

  • Nature of the Communication: If there was communication, what was its exact nature? Was it strategic advice, financial backing, or something else entirely?

  • Legal Ramifications: Even if proven, would Bannon's alleged involvement constitute a breach of Australia's foreign interference laws, given Palmer's Australian citizenship and the specifics of the FITS?

  • Vulnerability of the System: Does this incident highlight a gap in Australia's electoral integrity framework, particularly concerning foreign influence that operates through domestic actors?

  • Palmer's Motives: What is the true long-term objective behind Palmer's consistent, massive political spending if it consistently fails to translate into electoral success?

The implications for Australian democracy are significant. We must demand transparency and accountability. The alleged involvement of a foreign political operative in directing substantial campaign spending in Australia, regardless of its legal classification, raises serious questions about the autonomy and integrity of our electoral process.

Read More: Top AFL Players Negotiating Big New Contracts

Moving forward, a robust investigation is warranted to ascertain the facts surrounding these claims. Furthermore, a thorough review of Australia's foreign interference laws may be necessary to ensure they adequately address the evolving landscape of global political influence in the digital age. Protecting the sanctity of our elections requires vigilance, a commitment to truth, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable possibilities about who might be pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Sources:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Did Steve Bannon admit to orchestrating Clive Palmer's 2019 Australian election campaign?
Leaked documents suggest Bannon claimed responsibility for Palmer's $60 million advertising spend, but Clive Palmer has vehemently denied this, calling the claim a lie.
Q: Could Bannon's alleged involvement be considered foreign interference in Australia?
Experts suggest that even if Bannon's communication with Palmer is proven, it might not legally qualify as foreign interference under current Australian law, partly due to Palmer's citizenship.
Q: How much has Clive Palmer spent on Australian elections?
Clive Palmer has reportedly spent over $250 million across multiple federal elections attempting to influence Australian politics, with minimal electoral success.
Q: What is the core of the controversy surrounding Bannon and Palmer?
The controversy stems from Bannon's alleged boast in leaked documents that he directed Palmer's massive 2019 election advertising campaign, a claim Palmer's team dismisses as false.