What does it mean to be a Global Citizen? A Global Citizen is a person who is committed to helping those who are marginalized, who wants to create positive change for the environment, for women and girls, who believes in education as an important pathway for escaping poverty.
Steve Bannon is not known to have believed in any of these things.
His presence in US President Donald Trump's administration was seen by many as a legitimization of bigotry at the highest levels of US politics thanks to his track record before entering office.
As a founding member and later as the chief executive of Breitbart News, Bannon over saw the publishing of oodles of content that attacked (to name a few) women, Muslims, Jews, and “globalists.”
Read More: Climate Change Is Creating a Fissure in the Trump White House
As Chief Strategist in the Trump White House, Bannon was seen as the architect behind Trump’s travel ban for refugees and people from Muslim-majority countries, pushed Trump to ditch the Paris climate accord signed onto by 195 countries, and promoted “economic nationalism” as a policy agenda.
Today, according to the Drudge Report and the New York Times, Bannon was ousted from his role, ending more than 10 months as Trump’s Chief Strategist.
Here are five ways Steve Bannon was not a Global Citizen, and how you can be:
1. Bannon's been critical of foreign aid.
Bannon has called for the “deconstruction of the administrative state,” an appeal to leaders to focus their policies inwards, and make drastic cuts, even as millions around the world still live in extreme poverty, and continue to face disease, famine, and environmental destruction.
So, when Trump’s proposed 2018 budget included massive 30 percent cuts to foreign aid, it’s no surprise Politico called it “the clearest practical expression” of Bannon’s economic vision.
Foreign aid not only makes lives better abroad, it also has ramifications for US security — making Americans less prone to risks of terrorism and conflict. Global Citizens can take action here to reject Trump’s budget cuts.
2. He slandered, and allegedly abused, women.
Bannon’s record when it comes to women is marred by derogatory comments, such as when he called a female employee a bimbo; allegations of domestic violence by his ex-wife; and everything Milo Yiannopoulos ever wrote during Bannon’s tenure as chief executive at Breitbart, including articles like, “Does Feminism Make Women Ugly?” and “The Solution To Online ‘Harassment’ Is Simple: Women Should Log Off.”
Global Citizen believes that in order to end extreme poverty, women and girls must be lifted up and empowered, not held back, and Bannon did the opposite of that. If women and girls and educated and afforded equal employment opportunities, then the economy grows and overall povery recedes. You can take action to support women and girls around the world, here.
3. Bannon helped craft the ban on refugees and people from Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the US.
According to CNN, Bannon, along with Stephen Miller, played a major role in crafting Trump’s executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries in late January. Bannon, according to officials, pushed for the “hard line” directive that even green card holders face must additional screening before entering the country.
Refugees and migrants are among the world’s most vulnerable populations, and Global Citizen advocates for greater engagement with and assistance to these individuals, not mandates that further entrench them in poverty and violence. You can take action to help refugees here.
4. He argued for “economic nationalism.”
Under Bannon’s directive, Breitbart News paraded anti-globalist sentiments that made their way to the White House alongside Trump’s Chief Strategist. Bannon himself has argued that the US should embrace “economic nationalism,” even despite the fact that global trade has dramatically lowered extreme poverty for millions worldwide. During his tenure in the White House, Trump pulled out of the Trans Pacific Partnership, threated to leave the North American Free Trade Agreement, and has started a fight with China over its trade policies with the US.
5. He pushed for Trump to leave the Paris climate agreement.
We owe Trump’s decision to "cancel" the Paris Accord, a landmark treaty signed on to by 195 countries around the world to Bannon, according to multiple reports. Bannon and Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt lobbied Trump to pull the US out of the agreement for months.