Steve Bannon, Chinese Businessman At Center Of Sprawling QAnon Disinformation Network 05/17/21 AT 2:33 PM Researchers have uncovered a diverse disinformation network of agents and organizations centered around Chinese businessman Guo Wengui, a former billionaire real estate developer with ties to Steve Bannon, a former strategist for Donald Trump. While the shared opinions of participants seem to be authentic, their coordinated effort has spread conspiracy theories and even led to real-world violence. The research was published Monday by New York-based network analysis company Graphika and provided to the Washington Post. Describing the disinformation network is difficult due to its structure. Guo doesn’t seem to hold formal authority, with Graphika researchers describing him as the “lynchpin” and “the leading personality [who] appears to define goals and messaging, and is positioned as a wise leader who should be admired and followed.”