Steve Bannon, the conservative podcast host and convicted criminal, sparked controversy with his comments on Thursday, suggesting former President Donald Trump should consider Martha-Ann Alito, the wife of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, as his vice presidential candidate. This bold proposal came during a discussion on Bannon’s show, reflecting on a segment from MSNBC that criticized Justice Alito’s decision not to recuse himself from a Jan. 6 case.
Bannon was responding to an MSNBC discussion about the symbolic act by Martha-Ann Alito of flying the U.S. flag upside down, which some interpreted as a distress signal related to the Jan. 6 events. During his show, Bannon questioned the commentary from the news network, saying, “Did they just say, can’t you muzzle your own wife?” He expressed disbelief at the conversation, asking, “What is going on, are they that unhinged?”
Continuing his commentary, Bannon praised Martha-Ann Alito, stating, “Because Justice Alito’s wife, right, is now on my shortlist to be VP. She’s a hammer. And I don’t think you’re, I don’t think, she’s not Handmaid’s Tale, I don’t think you’re [going to] muzzle her.” His remarks highlighted his view of her as a strong and independent figure, unlikely to be silenced or subdued, reported Newsweek.
However, contrary to Bannon’s claims, there is no evidence that any MSNBC personalities explicitly called for Martha-Ann Alito to be “muzzled.” The network’s coverage included predictions by guest Dahlia Lithwick about potential right-wing reactions. Lithwick addressed the broader issue of how critics of Justices Thomas and Alito have been accused of trying to silence their wives, who are seen as independent agents.
She clarified, “We’ve heard over and over again how dare critics of Justices Thomas and Alito try to muzzle and silence their wives who are, you know, independent agents and can do what they want. I mean, clearly, if you look at the ethics rules, it has nothing to do with muzzling your wife.”
This episode underscores the heated and often polarized nature of political discourse surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court and its justices, revealing how personal aspects are sometimes thrust into the public sphere, influencing perceptions and political narratives.