“Scott Bessent today said Elon’s group in the first 30 days found $55 billion of waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Bannon, President Donald Trump’s chief White House strategist during the first several months of his first term. “$55 billion, that’s going to add up to six, seven, $800 billion. In one month, they’ve done that.”

He whipped out the salute after he emphatically urged the CPAC audience in Natioanal Harber, Maryland to “fight, fight, fight.” When it drew applause, Bannon made a quick nod and responded: “Amen.”