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Michael Jameson "Mike" Banning (born September 16, 1970) is a former Army Ranger who worked as a protective agent for the Secret Service and served as the head of the Presidential Detail. He is the main protagonist of the Has Fallen franchise.

He served in the protection detail of President Benjamin Asher until the tragic death of his wife in 2011, which Mike witnessed, saving the President Asher's in the process.

Mike later transferred away from the Presidential Detail to the United States Treasury Department, but when the White House (code name 'Olympus') came under attack and President Asher was held hostage in 2013 by a North Korean terrorist group called the Koreans for United Freedom, Mike managed to get inside the building undetected and helped greatly in the rescue mission. After his successful rescue of President Asher and the prevention of a nationwide nuclear disaster, Mike was reinstated to the Presidential Detail.

In 2016, Mike escorted President Asher to London for the funeral of British Prime Minister James Wilson. However, the Barkawi Arms Network: an Islamic militant organization led by Pakistani arms dealer and terrorist mastermind Aamir Barkawi assassinated five world leaders and tried to kill President Asher live via internet. However, Mike thwarted the live execution and rescued President Asher.

In 2019, Mike served Vice President turned President Allan Trumbull after Asher's presidency ended. After being exonerated for an assassination plot against President Trumbull, he was promoted to Director of the Secret Service.

Due to his heroic efforts of saving America and the President from certain death situations by deadly terrorists, Mike is considered to be one of America's greatest heroes.

Biography[]

Early Life and Military Career[]

OHF- Mike Banning Photoshoot 1

Mike Banning

Micheal Jameson Banning was born on September 16th, 1970, in Fort Hood, Texas, to Clay Banning, a decorated Army Ranger serving as a tunnel rat in the Vietnam War, and his wife Mary Banning (née DeWitt). After the war, his father abandoned him and his mother when he was young and went off the grid. His mother died years afterwards.

Mike later joined the Army, where he became a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, an elite special operations force. While in the Army, he met Wade Jennings and the duo formed a friendship and served in the 3rd Ranger Battalion together. According to Jennings, Mike brought a car for their army cook Moe.

Secret Service Career and Family Life[]

After his military service, Banning became a Secret Service agent in 2009, eventually serving as the leader of the Protection Detail for President Benjamin Asher. He married Leah, a nurse working at an unspecified hospital in Washington, D.C. Banning has a mother-in-law named Doris, who would become a grandmother to his daughter, Lynne, born at the end of the incident in London.

Olympus Has Fallen[]

Main article: Mike Banning on Olympus Has Fallen

Tragedy at Camp David[]

On December 25, 2011, during an icy night at Camp David, Mike and President Asher were boxing each other in the ring downstairs in a sparring match. They were soon interrupted by another Secret Service agent, Dave Forbes, who told them that they had to leave in ten minutes. Taking their boxing gear off, Asher jokingly remarked to Mike that he's 'not supposed to hit the President' and Mike replied that he knew.

Mike Banning 2

Mike on the tragic night.

Minutes later, Mike changed to the tuxedo, when they were about to take the President and his family to a campaign fundraiser on Christmas. After learning that the snowstorm outside was getting worse (but was advised that he was still able to drive), Banning ordered them to get the vehicles ready. Mike knocked on the door and told the president that they were to leave in 5 minutes. Then, First Lady Margaret Asher came up and asked Mike whether she should wear the long or the short earrings. Mike suggested she should wear the small one, because it would be a 'classic look for a classy lady.'

After that, Mike went to Benjamin and Margaret's son, Connor, who was playing Uncharted 3. Mike told him that the bloodbath would start if Margaret caught him playing it, and he turned off the TV. Connor remarked to Mike that he sucks as he shut off the game console, and Mike replied that he sucks worse as they started preparing to leave.

Banning told Agent Mark Diaz to ride shotgun on Presidential state car nicknamed The Beast as his Christmas gift. He asked Forbes if he was okay to stay back and watch the fort. Forbes said that with that snowstorm, he would get out of the tuxedo, sit by the fire and watch Breaking Bad. Banning told Forbes to leave the babysitter alone. Then, Banning and the other Secret Service agents departed Camp David with the President and First Lady, as Connor went with him, as well as agents Roma and O'Neil.

As Banning, along with Roma and O'Neil, drove Connor in their vehicle, he reminded Connor to put his seat belt on. Then, with Connor, he went over the number of emergency exits in the West Wing, the number of feet from the Oval Office to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center elevator and the number of the security cameras that recorded audio. Banning said that they will make a Secret Service agent out of Connor, and Roma remarked that he just needs to remember to put his seat belt on.

While traveling, a tree branch fell onto the lead vehicle and crashed into the limo, in which the President and his wife were seated in. The lead vehicle crashed through the bridge and fell into the icy water below, as the presidential limo skidded uncontrollably to the edge of the damaged part of the bridge, balancing precariously. Banning and the other agents rushed to the limo as it was slowly sliding down. Banning managed to get the passenger door open, but the door on Margaret's side was jammed. Though Asher attempted to save the unconscious Margaret, he was pulled from the car by Banning when it was about to fall off the bridge.

The car plummeted to the frozen river below, killing Margaret, Diaz and another agent on impact. As President Asher screamed in agony, Banning, along with Connor and the other Secret Service agents, were in deep shock over the loss of Margaret.

Haunted by Failure[]

Eighteen months later, on July 5, 2013, Mike was still haunted by his failure to save the First Lady. After that tragedy, he was demoted to the desk job in the Treasury Department and had since been a troubled workaholic. He was talking to his wife, Leah, after he missed the 4th of July celebration with her. He promised he would take her to see a movie, among other social events.

At the diner, Banning sat with Secret Service Director Lynne Jacobs, as well as his former subordinates, including Roma and O'Neil. Roma, who took Mike's spot as head of the Presidential Detail, introduced Banning to Agent Jones. After Roma and the others left (since they had to meet up the South Korean delegation in the White House, including South Korean Prime Minister Lee Tae-Woo), Banning told Jacobs that he wanted to return to the Presidential Detail because he's unhappy with the desk job at the Treasury Department. Jacobs assured him that he did what was necessary on that bridge and even President Asher knew that. Jacobs said that Asher just wasn't ready to see him every day because the sight of him still reminded him of Margaret's death and hadn't stopped grieving properly. Banning asked Jacobs about Connor. She replied that he still missed his mother, but also Banning, and drove the Secret Service crazy with his hiding spots, thanks to Banning's training. Jacobs told Banning that he had to start living in the real world and forgive himself for failing to save Margaret. As Jacobs was leaving, Banning thanked her for the support.

Back in his car, Banning called Leah on his phone, but got her voice mail instead and he said he's 'just checking in'. Then, he arrived at the Treasury Department. At around 6:00 PM, Banning heard the motorcade of the South Korean delegation arriving. Then, he tossed the soft ball at his computer screen, bored.

White House Taken[]

P229-E2 Olympus

Banning heard the unusual sound of a plane flying close by and saw a customized C-130 Hercules (AC-130) attacking the U.S. capital. He rushed out of the Treasury. When he saw the AC-130 making an attack, Banning yelled out to everyone to get out of the way. The plane fired at the streets and killed many Secret Service agents and civilians. Banning pushed two civilians into cover behind a car and covered himself and the two people to avoid being hit. As the plane flew by, he told the two civilians he saved to stay down, as he ran towards the White House, yelling at everyone to take cover.

As Banning made it to the White House, he saw the White House damaged by the AC-130 mini-guns and numerous bodyguards were killed. Then, a bus exploded and destroyed a nearby police car, causing everyone around it to panic, Banning saw two Korean men coming too close to the front fence. He yelled at the two men to get down. When they refused and were about to suicide bomb the fence, he killed one of them. But the other man detonated the bomb and destroyed the fence. As Banning was blown away by the blast radius, he was temporary dazed by the blast. The group of Korean men began their operation to attack the White House, and Banning tried to contact anyone on the radio, but got no response. As the terrorists went in the North Lawn, Banning grabbed his P229 pistol and entered the front lawn during the gunfight, killing two terrorists from behind. As he went to hide behind one of the trees, a terrorist spotted him and fired at him - but Banning killed the gunman.

As the terrorists were advancing to the White House, DC Police officers fired at them from the outside until a female sniper killed them. Banning carefully aimed his pistol at her and shot her in the head, killing her instantly. Banning took cover behind the trees, getting progressively closer to the White House. He reloaded a new magazine into his pistol, when he saw one of his friends got shot in the neck. Banning killed one of the advancing terrorists to run to the front entrance and had the wounded agent drop the ground behind cover. He tried to help the agent, but the agent died. Banning reloaded his last magazine and asked his former co-workers where President Asher was. One of his friends said he didn't know.

563b9fa57fe5acd6621ac60c05adbb03

Mike Banning during the attack on the White House.

As more reinforcements from the Secret Service were coming out from the front door, Banning was about to fire back at the terrorists, when he saw them going down. Then, he saw an FN M240D machine gun hidden in the garbage truck and tried to warn the agents to go back inside, but the majority of the agents were killed by the machine gun fire, as Banning watched in horror. Then, he looked back and saw a terrorist about to fire an RPG rocket. He yelled out to the agents with him as the rocket destroyed the front door and killed three Secret Service agents nearby. Banning yelled to the two agents with him to get inside the building. As Banning made it inside the White House, the other two agents were killed by the terrorists. Then, he retreated to the stairway and watched, as the Korean terrorists entered the White House. He realized that he ran out of ammo in his P229 pistol and further retreated upstairs to avoid detection.

Lone Intruder[]

OHF- Mike Banning photoshoot 2

As the White House was taken, Banning explored around to find any weapons and checking out if any agents were alive. He discovered Roma's body, who was shot to death. Banning briefly looked at his body somberly. When the terrorists shut the power down in the White House, Banning realized that the surveillance feed is still operational and headed for the control room. Then, he killed one of the terrorists by stabbing him repeatedly with his knife and finishes him off by slashing him in the throat. As Banning took the terrorist's pistol, he found a picture of Connor, realizing that they were looking for him. Banning typed in the code panel and got another pistol from a lock box. Then, he got access to the computer and Banning used his thumbprint on the USB scanner to access the computer and disabled the surveillance cameras so the terrorists wouldn't find him and Connor easily.

As Banning reaches the Oval Office, he tried to contact the Pentagon on the phone but discovered that all phone lines were down. Then, he went behind a picture where a hidden safe was located and opened it where the President's satellite phone is stored at and contacted the Pentagon with it. While waiting to be patched through, Banning saw C-4 explosives on the windows of the Oval Office.

Then, he was patched into the Situation Room in the Pentagon where Jacobs, Speaker of the House Allan Trumbull and U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Edward Clegg are at. Banning identified himself as Echelon 4 and gave Jacobs his designation code. A surprised Jacobs had asked where he is at. Banning confirmed to her that he is in the Oval Office while getting a pistol from the President's desk. He asked if President Asher is in the PEOC bunker. After place on hold for a few seconds, Jacobs confirmed to Banning that the president is in the bunker, where he was being held hostage. After Banning got the pistol, he asked Jacobs what do the terrorists want. Jacobs said that they are still trying to find out and Trumbull said he's the Acting President. When the Speaker asked Banning if there are any other survivors with him, Banning says all of the agents in there were wiped out and gave everyone at the Pentagon the situation report. While doing so, he got into the President's laptop and deleted the classified files so no one would get their hands on it. He asked where Connor was and Jacobs said that they didn't know his location, but it's presumed to be inside the White House. He told them that the terrorists were looking for him and tells everyone to use him.

After briefly looking at the pictures of the President and his family, he went on to see a terrorist coming at the Oval Office and fought him. Despite the terrorist's fighting prowess, Banning soon overpowered him and bashed his head with the robust statue of Abraham Lincoln, killing the terrorist.

After suiting up with the terrorist's armored suit, Banning took a picture of the Korean's tattoo of a terrorist's nape and sent it to the Pentagon. Jacobs asked if the commando's alive and Banning only replied, "Ask me a serious question." Nobody in the Pentagon recognized the tattoo and Trumbull had the Director of the C.I.A. send it over to Langley. Trumbull told Banning that the terrorists wanted them to recall the Seventh Fleet and pull their troops out of Korea. He also reluctantly informed Banning that a Cerberus code has been entered. While loading the dead terrorist's weapons, Banning asked what Cerberus is and General Clegg replied that it was classified, although Banning persuaded to tell him what it was. With Jacobs' approval, Trumbull went on to explain that Cerberus was a highly classified military protocol; a three-prong fail-safe protocol that can self-destruct any U.S. nuclear missiles in flight. Three top U.S. government officials had the partial output of the codes to activate Cerberus; President Asher, Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Joe Hoenig, all of whom were held hostage in the bunker. Jacobs said if they got those codes and self-detonated the nukes, it would leave America vulnerable to a nuclear strike. Banning told them to change the codes, but NSA Deputy Director Ray Monroe said that they couldn't do that since Cerberus was designed as a self-contained, total-isolated program and the only way to change the code is physically the computer located inside the bunker itself. Banning suspected that they were out to get Connor to make President Asher reveal his Cerberus code. Trumbull said that President Asher would hold out as long as possible, but if they got Connor and hurt him, Asher won't hold out under those circumstances. So, he authorized Banning to find Connor and get him out of White House. With that, Banning readily headed out to find Connor.

Saving Sparkplug[]

Banning finds Connor

Banning finds Connor in the hidden passageway.

While eluding the commandos in the hallways, Banning quietly entered the Lincoln Bedroom. After noticing the footsteps of the commandos, he sneaked into the hidden tunnels behind the Lincoln Bedroom walls. As he was quietly looking in the wall, he found Connor, who had hidden there during the attack. Connor was relieved to see Banning. Banning then informed the Pentagon that he found Connor (under his Secret Service code-name Sparkplug) and he's going to bring him out. Connor asked Banning about his father, and he assured the boy that his father would be fine. Then a few tense moments, Banning waited for the moment before he and Connor sprinted towards the other secret door as the terrorists fired at the walls. Banning blindly engaged at them and wounded one of them. As he and Connor made it to the door, Banning dove down to the side and fired the last two rounds in his pistol at the door of the Lincoln Bedroom and quickly pulled out another pistol. He asked Connor if he was alright, and Connor nodded. Then Banning told Connor to stay close to him. He quickly escorted Connor out of the living quarters before the terrorists in the Lincoln Bedroom could see them.

OHF- Mike tries to rescue the president's child

Banning took Connor to the sub-basement storage area and headed for the ventilation shaft that leads to the White House grounds. He told Connor to watch his back in case if any commandos came in as he unscrews the vent crate and informed The Pentagon that Connor would be coming out on the ground floor through the ventilation shaft in the northwest corner. After Banning finished unscrewing the vent grate, Connor asked if he was coming with him. Banning told the boy that he had to go and get his dad. He then reminded Connor climbing the shaft is like doing the chimney climb just like how Banning taught Connor in the Rose Garden wall. Banning then gave Connor his own badge as he told him that he's an honorary Secret Service agent now. He lifted Connor to the shaft and Connor began his climb to the top of the shaft. Banning informed the Pentagon that Connor is on his way up. Then, he saw a shadow of one of the terrorists coming in the storage area. He told Connor to wait to prevent making noises.

As the terrorist saw Connor in the shaft, Banning quickly sneaked up and grabbed the terrorist from behind, strangling him with his arms before breaking his neck. He told Connor it was a false alarm and told him to continue his climb. As Connor climbed up, Banning informed Jacobs he's coming up. After a few tense moments, Jacobs told Banning that Connor's out of the building safely, much to his relief. A pleased Trumbull then authorized Banning to get President Asher out. Banning acknowledged as he went out to try and save Asher.

Getting Information[]

"I just asked them nicely."
―Banning replied to Jacobs after interrogating two of the terrorists. [src]
OHF- Mike Banning photoshoot 3

Meanwhile, Banning ambushed two of the commandos and knocked them out. He took them to another room and tied them to the chair. He demanded to know who is running the group. Banning asked them if they speak English and they learned that language from where they come from. When he said that he's trained on how to extract information, the terrorists merely laughed at him. Banning sarcastically said that it is funny. Then, he stabbed one of the terrorists in the neck to scare the other one. Banning then guessed he's little rusty and sarcastically said to the other terrorist that his friend was a funny guy. Then, he demanded the name of his leader and how many men they had. When the terrorists spoke in Korean, Banning covered his mouth with his hand and stabbed him in the leg, forcing the terrorist to scream in pain. Banning told them to speak in English.

After learning the leader's name is Kang Yeonsak, the head of the Koreans for United Freedom, a North Korean paramilitary organization and Kang had 40 commandos breached the front gate and he had 28 men left, he informs the Pentagon of the information. Jacobs asked Banning if they can trust the information and he replied he just asked them nicely. Monroe checked the background on Kang. They uncovered that Kang is one of the most wanted terrorists in the world. Banning listened to Monroe's information on Kang as he learned that Kang was taken across DMZ as a child after his father was executed for crimes against North Korea, but while they were crossing the border, his mother was killed by a landmine belonging to the United States Army. Kang masterminded the 2004 bombing of the British Embassy in Seoul and smuggled uranium enrichment technology into North Korea from Pakistan. He had never been photographed or identified by any Western intelligence agency before and nobody thought to look for him inside the South Korean government. General Clegg said with the force that size, he had men who can sweep them out in short order. Banning informed the general that the terrorists are very tough. General Clegg said he's got the toughest guys in the world and that they needed to know how to get in the bunker. Jacobs said that they don't get in there once the blast doors closed and it's nuclear-hardened. She also says to General Clegg that there is used to be some old tunnels, but they were sealed up years ago. Banning told Trumbull that they need to know what they are going to walk into and warned him not to launch anything until he did some reconnaissance.

Discovering a Traitor[]

"You know what? Why don't you and I play a game of f*ck off? You go first."
―Banning confronting Kang on the radio. [src]

As Banning left the room, Kang contacted him through the radio and taunted him. Banning responded by saying what took him so long. Kang taunted that he knows about his failure to save Margaret and that he would fail to save the President, stating that failure seemed to be the habit with Banning these days. Banning said that maybe he owns them for giving him a chance to make up for that today. Kang just says that he admires him for acknowledging his own failure, but states there is no going back and nothing he can do tonight can atone for his disgrace. Banning states that maybe he can't atone for his disgrace but informed him that he might want to take a headcount and that Connor is out of the White House. Kang then taunted Banning again, asking about Leah and he knows about her too. Banning, fed up with Kang and quietly distressed that Kang mentioning Leah, just finished the conversation, saying that let each other play a game of "f*ck off. You go first" and disabled the radio before continuing down the hallways.

Later in the hallway near the state's dining room, Banning saw someone coming and put the gun to the man's head. To his surprise, it was Forbes, who currently works a private contractor in Prime Minister Lee's security detail. As he stood down, the surprised Banning asked Forbes what he was doing in the White House and Forbes said that he was with the South Korean delegation when this event went down. Forbes asked the same thing to Banning since he knows Banning works in the Treasury Department and Banning said he came in through the front door. As they set down on the doorway near the state's dining room, Forbes asked Banning if the president's okay. Banning said that the terrorists got him in the bunker. Forbes asked if Roma made it and Banning shook his head, which seemingly upsets Forbes. Banning says that they have to continue on, but Forbes was acting strange for the moment and when he mentioned Kang's name, the surprised and suspicious Banning asked Forbes how he knew the leader's name. Forbes then tossed his cigarette on Banning and attacks him, revealing to be alongside Kang. Banning pushed to the table in the state's dining room. As Forbes pinned Banning to the floor and tried to put his pistol on him, Banning was able to get the pistol out of Forbes' hand and fought him. As they stood, Banning then fought Forbes. Then Forbes let out his own knife and tried to stab Banning with it, but Banning was proven to be superior and stabbed Forbes' chest with the knife Forbes was using and knocked him down.

As Banning leaned down to the mortally wounded Forbes, he confronted the traitor on why he did this. Forbes somberly and regretfully admitted that he lost his way. Banning convinced Forbes to tell Kang that he killed him to help him buy some time to save the president in order to make up for his treacherous deeds and used the radio to have Forbes contact Kang. Forbes then tells Kang that he got Banning and that everything is clear. Once it was done, Banning killed Forbes by stabbing him in the head.

Rooftop Battle[]

Banning realized that General Clegg was planning to infiltrate the White House by having an infiltration team to go into the roof. Banning told the Pentagon to wait and let him check out the roof first. Clegg only said that they were not waiting, and Trumbull stated that they have to secure Cerberus. Banning unhappily goes to the roof as fast as possible.

As Banning reached the roof access of the White House, he slowly peeked in and saw no one there at the moment. Then, he saw a weapons control laptop. Banning realized that is the Hydra 6, a next generation prototype anti-aircraft weapon from the Army package. As he saw the weapon moving up the lift, Banning tried to tell the Pentagon to hold the SEAL team away from the White House, but Clegg initially refused to do so. Banning tried to deactivate the weapon, but its access was locked out. He told Jacobs that Kang's men would have the Hydra 6 and they had to abort the infiltration. Although Clegg knew what the Hydra 6 is, he was still confident that the SEALs would take the weapon down. Banning angrily told them to abort the mission, but in vain.

Having no choice, Banning saw one of the terrorists coming in the roof access. He charged at him and shot the terrorist in the leg to use him as a human shield. Banning then killed two of the terrorists with his pistol using that terrorist as a shield. Then the fourth terrorist pinned him. Banning killed the terrorist he used as a human shield as he watches as the Hydra 6 rose up and started firing on the helicopters. As the terrorist blocked him in, Banning uses the scoped Heckler & Koch MP5A3 to shoot that terrorist's feet and quickly finished him off before heading to the roof as the Hydra 6 annihilated the SEAL team. He took the RPG launcher and fired at the last Hydra 6 weaponry, but that last gun destroyed the fifth chopper, as the helicopter was about to crash on the White House. He moved away from the chopper and went to the hole on it. As the helicopter's rear rotor was about to hit Banning, he let go of the hole and fell through the third floor and landed in the floor of the Lincoln Bedroom, injuring himself as the helicopter explodes, damaging the living quarters of the White House.

As he regained consciousness, Banning, who is in pain due to the injuries he sustained from the fall, crawl sluggishly to the bed frame in the Lincoln Bedroom. He checked in with the Pentagon. Trumbull said that they'd been trying to reach him and asked if he was alright. Banning tells the Speaker that the team needs some serious help and can hold him for insubordination. General Clegg ordered Banning to stand down, stating that they need to put him out of here before they lost another hostage, since Vice President Charlie Rodriguez has been executed by Kang. Banning reminded the general that he doesn't work for him. While Trumbull was reprimanding Clegg, Banning mended his wounds. When Trumbull checked in with Banning, he pulled a piece of debris out of his left abdomen and asked the Speaker what the plan is. The Speaker reluctantly says that they are going to recall the Seventh Fleet and pull their troops out of Korea, as well as giving them the helicopter to the North Lawn. Banning informed the Speaker that they cannot give Kang and his men what they want and he had dealt with these types of men before. He told Trumbull to give him some time to flush them out. Trumbull said that they are talking about the safety of the President of the United States and Banning replied that they are talking more than that. He reminded The Speaker that he is acting president now and that he is the best hope he's got. Trumbull told Banning he's got 30 minutes to do something to flush out the terrorists.

Here to Stay[]

"There is no again. You're gonna die down there alone, cut off from the rest of the world. My advice, save the last bullet for yourself. Because if you don't, I'm gotta stick my knife to your brain."
―Banning taunting Kang on the video chat [src]

Banning finally called Leah, who has been working in the hospital since the siege and got a hold of her while he was treating his own injuries. Banning tells her he's just checking in. When Leah asked how his day had been, he only said that he's been busy, refusing to tell her that he's inside the White House to avoid worrying her. Banning asked if she was okay, Leah says that she's alright and that she had to stay in the hospital longer than she thought. He replied that he had to stay longer too. When Leah asked her husband if he could come home, Banning replied that he would, and they got a date to do soon. Then Banning said he has to go and only said that paperwork is starting to pile up, unwilling to worry Leah about his current situation. Banning told Leah that he loves her before hanging up to do his job. Once he patched himself up, Banning went back to work.

Banning confronts Kang at video chat

Banning confronts Kang at the video chat

At the security room, Banning disabled the communications in the bunker and spoke to Kang on the video call. He taunted the terrorist that if he looks like he has seen a ghost after having Forbes to tell him that he's dead. Then, Banning said that there would be no televised executions, no helicopter and no more negotiating with him. When Kang said he will send President Asher's body out, Banning complied it won't matter because whatever Kang believed he had accomplished, he won't be alive to see it. Kang unhappily ordered his computer expert, Lim, to disable the video call, but Banning said that he isn't shutting him down and is here to say. Kang admitted that he had underestimated him and that it won't happen again. Banning said that there's no again because he would die down in the bunker alone and cut off from the world. He advised Kang to save the last bullet for himself or he would stick his knife to his brain. Then he taunted that he would send photos of his body to the press, because he knows Kang likes that kind of stuff before ending the call and locking out Kang's video access and headed out to the bunker where Kang would leave.

As Banning moved to the stairway near the front entrance where Kang intended to kill Secretary McMillan outside the White House in front of the media, he used his scoped MP5A3 to kill Kang's henchman Cho. As he tried to shoot Kang, Banning kills another one of Kang's men. As he headed downstairs to avoid gunfire, Kang was retreating to the bunker and U.S. troops pulled McMillan to safety. As two of Kang's men were coming to the stairway, Banning killed one coming in the stairway and blindly fired his pistol to mortally wound the other one before finishing him off swiftly. When Trumbull checked in with Mike, he informed him that Kang had gotten away and was back in the bunker. Trumbull told him he had given a good shot that he saved McMillan as Banning continued to stop the looming nuclear threat.

Final Showdown with Kang[]

While Mike was patrolling the White House, Trumbull informed him that they have to get Kang and the President out of the open while giving him the chopper as their best shot until he heard an explosion. As Mike looked at the North Lawn, he was horrified that the helicopter exploded and feared the worst. He asked Trumbull what happened, and Trumbull just said that it's hard to tell that Kang killed himself, along with the President and the other hostages. After a moment, Mike was suspicious about the explosion and informed Trumbull that Kang would not go out like a suicide bomber and that was not who he was. He suspected that Kang was still in the bunker with President Asher, and he would try to get away under that cover. Trumbull informed Banning that if Kang was still in the bunker with the President, Mike could not let Kang leave with Asher. Banning promised that he won't let them escape as he headed to the elevator that goes down the P.E.O.C.

While Kang and his men were attempting to escape with the President, the elevator arrived in the bunker and Banning quickly killed two of Kang's men with the final rounds of his Glock pistol. As President Asher knocked Kang's last henchman, Yu, off him and tried to confront Kang, Banning ran towards the hallway near the concrete wall and slid down to his knees to grab Yu's weapon away from him as Yu tried to use the wall to spring a surprise attack. After a brief fight, Banning managed to get behind Yu and broke his neck, killing Yu.

Banning kills Kang

Banning kills Kang with a knife

After Kang shot President Asher in the abdomen when trying to get Kang's gun away from him, Banning rushed towards and managed to have Kang lose his pistol. As they fight each other, Kang was proven to be a skilled martial artist. Although Banning managed to land a few hits on him and knocked Kang's knives away, the terrorist mastermind kicked him down to the ground. Banning grabbed one of the Kang's knives and tried to attack him with it. Although he slashed the terrorist's leg after blocking one of his kicks and again slashed his right arm, Kang pushed Banning to the concrete wall, and he made the agent lose the knife during the struggle. After knocking Banning down, Kang began to strangle him with his right hand. As he was about to be choked to death, Kang taunted Banning with, "Looks like you failed again, Mike." With those poor choice of words and with Kang looking at the wounded Asher struggling to get close to him, the motivated Banning used his elbow to strike Kang's right arm and bashed his head with his knee. Then, Banning jumped and rolled down to the floor, holding Kang in the headlock with his legs before breaking Kang's right arm to incapacitate him. Banning picked up a nearby knife with his left hand before stabbing it into Kang's head, killing the terrorist mastermind and proving true to his words earlier, as well as avenging all those killed during his attack.

Disabling Cerberus[]

After Kang's death, he tended the injured President Asher, who informed him that Kang had activated Cerberus. Banning told Asher to press his stomach wound harder and quickly rushed to the bunker to disable Cerberus. He alerted the Pentagon through the bunker's radio microphone that the President Asher was hurt, but alive and asked how to disable the protocol. As Trumbull called someone to get the deactivation code, General Clegg told Banning to find the control panel marked "Countermand" and flipped a switch that's marked "Initiate Recall". Once Banning did all that, the deactivation sequence was initiated.

As the time was getting close to thirty seconds, Banning told them to hurry up. Monroe gave him the deactivation code step-by-step. When Monroe said the word "Hash tag", Banning was confused as he didn't know what it is. Jacobs quickly told Banning that it's Shift-3. After Banning typed in pound sign, Monroe gave him the final codes. Once it was done, Banning and others in the Pentagon waited several tense moments while the code was being transmitted as the countdown almost reached zero. When the countdown reached three seconds, Cerberus was deactivated, much to the immediate relief of Banning and everyone in the Pentagon as the nightmarish situation is finally over.

Epilogue[]

OHF- Mike and Leah embrace

Mike is reunited with his spouse Leah after he escorts the President out of the White House bunker.

By dawn, Banning took the wounded President Asher out of the White House. As they went to the front entrance, Banning had apologized for the damage on the White House. President Asher said that he believes the building is insured as the US troops took the President from Banning as they left the building. As Mike was being escorted, he sees Connor hugging his father outside the ambulance and felt relieved to see that as he was escorted by troops to the ambulance. While he was about to be checked on by paramedics, he saw Leah waiting in the ambulance. Leah comes over to him and they embraced.

Banning returns to Presidential detail

Banning returned to the Presidential detail.

Days later, Banning was finally reinstated to the protection detail as he, along with Connor, Jacobs and General Clegg, watched President Asher addressing the media and the entire nation about the aftermath of the attack on the American lives that were lost and his assurance that America would rebuild from the siege. After the speech, Mike and President Asher shook hands. As Benjamin and Connor left the press room, Mike stood proudly, knowing that he had redeemed himself.

After Olympus Has Fallen[]

After his reinstatement to the Presidential Detail, Banning likely recruited many agents, including Bronson and Voight, into the detail to replace the ones killed during the White House Siege. During the three years that passed, Leah became pregnant with his first child. He began to question his life now that he is expecting father and had been contemplating whether to resign from the protection detail.

London Has Fallen[]

Main article: Mike Banning on London Has Fallen

Preparations for State Funeral[]

Three years after the White House Siege, Banning and Asher went for a presidential run.

Later, Banning watches the news regarding that British Prime Minister James Wilson passed away from an apparent heart attack while undergoing post-surgical treatment to repair his knee. A visibly pregnant Leah then came over and said it was the White House on the phone. The next day, Banning and Jacobs arrived in the Oval Office. Banning told them that they would land in Somerset House and they would drive by motorcade to St. Paul's Cathedral.

London Incident[]

On his next mission, which Banning decides to make as his last, he was assigned to protect President Asher and Jacobs as they traveled to London to attend the British Prime Minister's funeral. However, the funeral was suddenly bombarded by surprise attacks caused by several Arabian terrorists disguising as policemen, emergency service personnel and the Queen's Guard, and they quickly assassinated the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan. Banning immediately killed eight terrorists before he, Asher and Jacobs were forced into a car chase to escape from London, which had now become a death trap. Banning managed to shoot many motorcycling terrorists trying to get President Asher, and soon they were now on Marine One helicopter trying to fly out of the city. However, the terrorists, armed with FIM-92 Stinger missile launchers, shot all Marine One helicopters down, and when Banning's Marine One helicopter crashed, the collision lodged a metallic spike through Jacobs, and she bled to death.

Banning and Asher ran for it and entered the emptied streets, taking down a squad of terrorists who had invaded the London Underground. Banning picked up the radio from one of the terrorists he shot, and this connected him to Kamran Barkawi who revealed that he had coordinated the attacks on London. Banning only threatened Kamran that he's coming to kill him unless he retreated to wherever he's from. Banning and Asher met up with Jacqueline Marshall, an agent working in an MI6 safe house, which was also infiltrated by terrorists disguising as Delta Force team. The two were being forced out to the streets and drove off but were hit by the terrorists in a truck and they kidnapped Asher. In retaliation, Banning shot and stabbed the terrorist who was assigned to get him until the joint SAS and Delta reinforcements led by Will Davies arrived at that moment.

Rescuing the President[]

Banning and the military assault team approached Kamran's hideout to save President Asher before he was executed in live at 8:00 PM. Banning and the military engaged half of Barkawi's men, although the surviving half were proven to be too well armed, forcing Banning to refrain from frontal assault as he attempted it. The assault team then destroyed the generator and drew enemy attention while Banning infiltrated Kamran's hideout to find Asher.

At this time, Kamran and his hackers had taken over public TV screens worldwide, including the United States and Japan, with the intention to execute Asher on the live feed. Banning reached Asher at the very last second and ordered Davies to detonate the explosive attached to the building's gas pipelines; while Banning and Asher made a run for it, Kamran was left to incinerate to death from the gas explosion. Afterwards, Davies and his men located both Banning and Asher alive in the elevator shaft. Banning had given Kamran's satellite phone to Davies, since it could be useful to track down Kamran's father, Aamir Barkawi (the mastermind), which led to Barkawi's death by a drone strike.

Epilogue[]

Two weeks after the events of London, Leah eventually gave birth to Banning's daughter, Lynne Banning, named after Jacobs. As Banning was about to send his letter of resignation to the President, he was inspired by Trumbull's speech. With that, he decided to delete his letter.

After London Has Fallen[]

Banning contained to serve in the Presidential Detail for President Asher until his second term in office ended. He then served Allan Trumbull when his administration started.

Angel Has Fallen[]

Main article: Mike Banning on Angel Has Fallen

Training Exercise and Pain Medication[]

Mike underwent extensive training session with his former fellow colleague in the Army Rangers, Wade Jennings, and his commandos working for a private military company named Salient Global at their base in Virginia. His trusted commander-in-chief, President Allan Trumbull, had recommended for a position as Director of the United States Secret Service to replace the retiring Director David Gentry.

Throughout the events, he hid a fact that he was suffering from migraines and insomnia, as well as the recurring back pain, likely due to events in the White House Siege and the London Siege.

Attack on the President[]

Mike went on a rural fishing trip with President Trumbull where both of them shared jokes about the President taking a day off to catch some fish. However, they were interrupted when Banning and the protection detail saw a large number of unmanned drones approaching from the north. The entire protection detail was killed by said drones, but Banning was able to survive and save Trumbull. However, the duo got incapacitated in the process and sent to Saint Matthews Hospital.

Framed for the Assassination and on the Run[]

While the President was on comatose due to injuries sustained from the attack, Mike was placed under arrest by FBI agent Helen Thompson as she and her team had uncovered substantial evidence of his hair and DNA stored in the discarded cargo van used to carry out the massacre.

As Mike was being transported to a detention facility, his convoy was ambushed and attacked by mercenaries and was being led away. However, Mike quickly escaped after killing all of his assailants in the SUV and made it crash into the tree. Mike unmasked and recognized one of the assailants as Bruno who took part in the training exercise at the beginning of the film. He eventually deduced that Jennings was responsible for framing him. He took off, but not before taunting the dead Bruno for not taking his previous words seriously.

Walking towards the gas station and got himself changed of clothes, Mike utilized the pay phone to call his wife Leah and let her know that he is alive. However, the long period of phone call alerted Thompson to his location which led to a car chase. When he crashed the trailer, Mike ran off into the woods at night and successfully eluded the police looking for him.

Finding his Estranged Father[]

The next morning, Mike headed to his father Clay's house in the woods and even encountered him aiming a sniper rifle at his own estranged son. Mike recalled to his father that he had been in West Virginia for the past five years; North Carolina and Alaska prior to that.

At night, Mike and his father observed Jennings' men approaching Clay's house through surveillance cameras. Clay detonates explosives around the perimeter of the house, killing all the would-be attackers. They escaped and Mike draws map coordinates to Clay's house and used the cameras on the highway to lead the FBI to the bodies of Salient Global commandos. Before parting ways, Mike revealed to his father that he has a wife and daughter.

Rescuing the President[]

Knowing that the President was still in danger, Mike headed to St. Matthews Hospital where Trumbull awoke from his coma and took a State Police uniform from the officer he held at gunpoint. Upon reaching the floor where Trumbull was treated, he was captured by the Secret Service and met Gentry, telling him that he needed to see the President. As Mike was brought in, he explained to the President that he knew the culprit behind the attack and informed him that he is not safe in hospital.

When Gentry and White House Chief of Staff Sam Wilcox argued about Mike's loyalty situation, Trumbull clarified that Mike was on his side, revealing that Mike was the reason he was still alive, and ordered his release. Mike noticed the hospital's nitrogen and oxygen supply had leaked, realizing that Jennings was going to destroy the hospital's Intensive Care Unit and Gentry ordered a full evacuation of the hospital.

Mike led the President to the emergency vehicles when he saw Jennings and his men arrived and started their attack. When Wilcox was shot dead by Jennings, Mike and Gentry quickly led the President to the adjacent building and hid both Gentry and Trumbull in the office while he went out to rearm himself to engage Jennings and his men. Then, Mike was able to prevent Jennings' escape by destroying the helicopter he was about to climb aboard before engaging him in a brutal one-on-one fight. Eventually, Mike killed Jennings and the crisis ended.

Epilogue[]

After he was exonerated of all charges, Mike had a meal with his father and his family, with Clay deciding that he would live with his son and his family. Mike then went to the White House to meet Trumbull in the Oval Office, where he finally disclosed his aliments and offered his resignation after feeling guilty over his failure to protect Trumbull. However, the President forgave all of his mistakes and still recommended Mike for the position as Director of the Secret Service, in which he accepted.

Zero Gravity Center

Mike and Clay at the Zero Gravity Center.

Clay and Mike later had a discussion about not dealing with their own mental traumas. Under Mike's suggestion, the duo soon visited the Zero Gravity Center together in an attempt to relax as a bonding experience before complaining when they were engulfed in darkness.

Notable Events[]

Characters met[]

Injuries[]

  • 2013
    • Slashed in the forehead during a fall.
    • Slashed in the left forearm with a knife by Kang Yeonsak.
  • 2016
    • Slashed in the right side of abdomen with a machete by Kamran Barkawi.
  • 2019
    • Shot in the left shoulder with a sniper rifle by Salient Global commando #28.

See also[]

Behind the Scenes[]

Mike Banning was portrayed by Gerard Butler in Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen, Angel Has Fallen and Night Has Fallen.

Appearances[]

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Banning has been compared by some film critics as being rather similar to the protagonist Jack Bauer on the TV show 24. Ironically, Banning kills the same number of terrorists in Olympus Has Fallen.


Characters
Mike Banning - President Benjamin Asher - Allan Trumbull - Lynne Jacobs - Leah Banning - Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan - General Edward Clegg - Ray Monroe
Olympus Has Fallen characters
Protagonists Agent Roma - Agent O'Neil - Agent Jones
Antagonists Kang Yeonsak - Dave Forbes - Lim - Cho - Yu
Other characters Connor Asher - Margaret Asher - Vice President Charlie Rodriguez - Prime Minister Lee Tae-Woo - Admiral Joe Hoenig - Mark Diaz
London Has Fallen characters
Protagonists Jacqueline "Jax" Marshall - D.C. Mason - Kevin Hazard - Will Davies - Agent Voight - Agent Bronson
Antagonists Aamir Barkawi - Kamran Barkawi - John Lancaster - Sultan Mansoor - Raza Mansoor
Other characters Doris - Prime Minister Robert Bowman - President Jacques Mainard - Chancellor Agnes Bruckner - Prime Minister Antonio Gusto - Prime Minister Tsutomu Nakushima
Angel Has Fallen characters
Protagonists Clay Banning - David Gentry - Helen Thompson - Sam Wilcox - Agent Murphy
Antagonists Martin Kirby - Wade Jennings - Travis Cole - Bruno - Frost
Other characters Ramirez - Peterson - James Haskell - Admiral Paul Sebring
Paris Has Fallen characters
Protagonists
Antagonists
Other characters Vincent Taleb - Jacob Pearce - Unnamed French Minister - Zara Taylor
Night Has Fallen characters
Protagonists
Antagonists
Other characters
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