
Sanders doesn't want to try to woo ‘right-wing extremist' Musk back to Democratic Party
Sen. Bernie Sanders doesn't think Democrats should even bother trying to woo back onetime party supporter Elon Musk after he went berserk on President Trump last week.
Musk has openly admitted to backing Democrats in the past, and some party bigs believe the opportunity is ripe to now win back the tech mogul given his public mega-rift with the GOP prez — but Sanders said Sunday he has major doubts.
'I think Musk has evolved over the years,' Sanders (I-Vt.) told CNN's 'State of the Union.' 'My understanding is, he actually voted for Obama, I think, in 2008. But over the years, he has developed into a right-wing extremist.
3 Sen. Bernie Sanders doesn't see an opportunity for Democrats to win Elon Musk back.
Getty Images
'This is a fight between oligarchs. It's a fight among power among the few,' he said of Musk and Trump. 'And it's really an embarrassment to those of us who believe in democracy and the rule of law.'
Musk and Trump's feud exploded last week when the billionaire X founder ripped the president's proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act as 'pork-filled' and a 'disgusting abomination.'
3 Musk exploded on President Trump last week, days after his chummy send-off from the Oval Office.
Molly Riley/White House / SWNS
He then contended that the president won the White House in large part because of Musk's backing and accused the administration of withholding infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's investigation files to protect the president — online accusations he later deleted.
Democrats roundly cheered as the world's richest man battling the most powerful man in the world, watching their two most pronounced political adversaries go at it.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), whose district is nestled in Silicon Valley, suggested that Democrats should make overtures to Musk.
'If Biden had a big supporter criticize him, Trump would have hugged him the next day. When we refused to meet with@RobertKennedyJr, Trump embraced him & won. We can be the party of sanctimonious lectures, or the party of FDR that knows how to win & build a progressive majority,' Khanna argued.
Liberal comedian Bill Maher similarly suggested Democrats should try to win Musk back over to their camp.
3 Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna has pushed Democrats to open their arms to Musk.
AP
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) appeared to agree that Democrats should be open to working with Musk but was adamant that he wouldn't accept campaign contributions from the billionaire.
'This is not about right or left, it's about right or wrong,' Booker told NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday. 'I welcome Elon Musk, not to my campaign. I welcome him right now, not to sit back and just fire off tweets, to get involved right now in a more substantive way.'
Trump has publicly warned Musk there would be 'consequences' if he helped boost Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections.
But while eager to see Musk and Trump go at it, Democrats appear unsure of the best strategy to take amid the feud.
Democratic strategist Brad Bannon, who hosts the progressive podcast 'Deadline DC,' told The Post he doubts Musk will enter the Dem fold again.
'I don't see much potential in that happening,' Bannon said.
'Honestly, I don't think there's much Democrats can find in common with Musk. He's the guy who has some pretty rigid, quasi fascist political beliefs.
'I don't see how they can support him, find accommodation with him, but I think they can take advantage of this big battle.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
California gov describes Trump's deployment of National Guard as 'the acts of a dictator'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused President Donald Trump of 'the acts of a dictator' for deploying National Guard troops to quell violent protests in Los Angeles. Newsom posted to socia media a video of Trump saying he would charge state and local officials federally if they interfere with the immigration enforcement that sparked the protests June 6, 7 and 8. Gavin accused Trump of 'inciting and provoking violence,' 'creating mass chaos' and 'militarizing cities.' 'These are the acts of a dictator, not a President,' Newsom said. The two men have long been at odds. Trump said on social media June 7 that federal authorities needed to step in because of the inaction of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom, who Trump has nicknamed. "If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can't do their jobs, which everyone knows they can't, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!" Trump said in the post. The two have repeatedly clashed, most recently in late May, when Trump threatened to cut California's federal funding after a transgender high school athlete qualified for the state championship. "Large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently," Trump said at the time, if California fails to follow an executive order he signed Feb. 5 seeking to bar transgender student athletes from playing women's sports. Newsom, a Democrat with presidential aspirations, has also sparred with Trump over tariffs, fighting fires and the management of water and environmental resources, though he has also criticized his own party. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California governor accuses Trump of 'acts of a dictator'


New York Times
25 minutes ago
- New York Times
Live Updates: Tensions Flare Between Protesters and Law Enforcement in L.A.
News Analysis National Guard troops in Los Angeles on Sunday. Gov. Gavin Newsom of California has formally asked the Trump administration to remove them. It is the fight President Trump had been waiting for, a showdown with a top political rival in a deep blue state over an issue core to his political agenda. In bypassing the authority of Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a Democrat, to call in the National Guard to quell protests in the Los Angeles area over his administration's efforts to deport more migrants, Mr. Trump is now pushing the boundaries of presidential authority and stoking criticism that he is inflaming the situation for political gain. Local and state authorities had not sought help in dealing with the scattered protests that erupted after an immigration raid on Friday in the garment district. But Mr. Trump and his top aides leaned into the confrontation with California leaders on Sunday, portraying the demonstrations as an existential threat to the country — setting in motion an aggressive federal response that in turn sparked new protests across the city. As more demonstrators took to the streets, the president wrote on social media that Los Angeles was being 'invaded and occupied' by 'violent, insurrectionist mobs,' and directed three of his top cabinet officials to take any actions necessary to 'liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion.' 'Nobody's going to spit on our police officers. Nobody's going to spit on our military,' Mr. Trump told reporters as he headed to Camp David on Sunday, although it was unclear whether any such incidents had occurred. 'That happens, they get hit very hard.' The president declined to say whether he planned to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act, which allows for the use of federal troops on domestic soil to quell a rebellion. But either way, he added, 'we're going to have troops everywhere.' Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, posted on social media that 'this is a fight to save civilization.' Mr. Trump's decision to deploy at least 2,000 members of the California National Guard is the latest example of his willingness and, at times, an eagerness to shatter norms to pursue his political goals and bypass limits on presidential power. The last president to send in the National Guard for a domestic operation without a request from the state's governor, Lyndon B. Johnson, did so in 1965, to protect civil rights demonstrators in Alabama. Image President Donald Trump in New Jersey on Sunday. On social media, he, his aides and allies have sought to frame the demonstrations against immigration officials on their own terms. Credit... Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times But aides and allies of the president say the events unfolding in Los Angeles provide an almost perfect distillation of why Mr. Trump was elected in November. 'It could not be clearer,' said Newt Gingrich, the former Republican House speaker and ally of the president who noted that Mr. Trump had been focused on immigration enforcement since 2015. 'One side is for enforcing the law and protecting Americans, and the other side is for defending illegals and being on the side of the people who break the law.' Sporadic protests have occurred across the country in recent days as federal agents have descended on Los Angeles and other cities searching workplaces for undocumented immigrants, part of an expanded effort by the administration to ramp up the number of daily deportations. On social media, Mr. Trump, his aides and allies have sought to frame the demonstrations against immigration officials on their own terms. They have shared images and videos of the most violent episodes — focusing particularly on examples of protesters lashing out at federal agents — even as many remained peaceful. Officials also zeroed in on demonstrators waving flags of other countries, including Mexico and El Salvador, as evidence of a foreign invasion. 'Illegal criminal aliens and violent mobs have been committing arson, throwing rocks at vehicles, and attacking federal law enforcement for days,' wrote Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. Mr. Newsom, whom the president refers to as 'Newscum,' has long been a foil for Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly targeted California and its leader as emblematic of failures of the Democratic Party. 'We expected this, we prepared for this,' Mr. Newsom said in a statement to The New York Times. 'This is not surprising — for them to succeed, California must fail, and so they're going to try everything in their tired playbook despite the evidence against them.' Image Law enforcement officers and members of the California National Guard engaged protesters in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday. Credit... Gabriela Bhaskar/The New York Times On Sunday, the governor sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally requesting that Mr. Trump rescind the call-up of the National Guard, saying federal actions were inflaming the situation. He was echoed by other Democratic officials, who said the mounting demonstrations were the result of Mr. Trump's own actions. The president and his aides 'are masters of misinformation and disinformation,' Senator Alex Padilla of California, a Democrat, said in an interview. 'They create a crisis of their own making and come in with all the theatrics and cruelty of immigration enforcement. They should not be surprised in a community like Los Angeles they will be met by demonstrators who are very passionate about standing up for fundamental rights and due process.' Republicans defended Mr. Trump's moves, saying he was rightfully exercising his power to protect public safety. 'The president is extremely concerned about the safety of federal officials in L.A. right now who have been subject to acts of violence and harassment and obstruction,' Representative Kevin Kiley, Republican of California, said in an interview. He added: 'We are in this moment because of a series of reckless decisions by California's political leaders, the aiding and abetting the open-border policies of President Biden.' Trump officials said on Sunday that they were ready to escalate their response even more, if necessary. Tom Homan, the president's border czar, suggested in an interview with NBC News that the administration would arrest anyone, including public officials, who interfered with immigration enforcement activities, which he said would continue in California and across the country. Image Protesters in Pasadena, Calif., on Sunday. Credit... Alex Welsh for The New York Times Mr. Trump appears to be deploying against California a similar playbook that he has used to punish universities, law firms and other institutions and individuals that he views as political adversaries. Last month, he threatened to strip 'large scale' federal funding from California 'maybe permanently' over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports. And in recent days, his administration said it would pull roughly $4 billion in federal funding for California's high-speed train, which would further delay a project that has long been plagued by delays and funding shortages. 'Everything he's done to attack California or anybody he fears isn't supportive of him is going to continue to be an obsession of his,' Mr. Padilla said. 'He may think it plays smart for his base, but it's actually been bad for the country.' White House officials said there was a different common denominator that explains Mr. Trump's actions both against institutions like Harvard and immigration protests in Los Angeles. 'For years Democrat-run cities and institutions have failed the American people, by both choice and incompetence,' Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement. 'In each instance,' she added, 'the president took necessary action to protect Americans when Democrats refused.'
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump Threatens California Officials With Arrest If They Interfere With ICE Raids
President Donald Trump and his border czar said that the contentious immigration raids taking over California will persist, and state officials who interfere, including Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D), could be arrested. 'Officials who stand in the way of law and order, yea, they will face judges,' Trump told reporters on Sunday, according to NBC News. On Sunday, Trump also said that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi and other Los Angeles agencies will 'take such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots.' Trump's remarks came after similar comments from Tom Homan, the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, during an interview with NBC News' Jacob Soboroff on Saturday evening. 'I'm telling you what, we're going to keep enforcing law every day in LA,' Homan said. 'Every day in LA, we're going to enforce immigration law. I don't care if they like it or not.' Soboroff asked Homan if he would arrest officials like Bass and Newsom if they 'stand in the way of your enforcement operations.' 'I'll say that about anybody,' Homan said. 'You cross that line. It's a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It's a felony to impede law enforcement from doing their job.' On Saturday night, Trump signed a memo saying he'd send at least 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles as tensions from the raids increased, with about 300 troops arriving by early Sunday. This is the first time a president has sent the National Guard to a state without the governor's request in roughly six decades. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton could also be deployed if the unrest continues. Numerous protests have popped up across the county, including in Paramount, Downtown LA, Compton, and more, according to The New York Times' visual timeline of this weekend. At a protest on Friday outside the Los Angeles Federal Building, federal authorities fired pepper balls at demonstrators and arrested more than 100 people. On Saturday, protesters and law enforcement clashed in Paramount, a city in the southern part of Los Angeles County. Officers used tear gas on the protesters. There was also a protest in Compton, another city in the southern part of the county, on Saturday night. Officers used flash-bang grenades and rubber bullets against the protesters. By Sunday afternoon, recently arrived National Guard members and Department of Homeland Security personnel had used smoke and pepper spray on protesters outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, according to The Los Angeles Times. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) appeared to be on the ground at the protest earlier on Sunday, according to The Los Angeles Times. 'Who are you going to shoot?' she asked the soldiers outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center on Sunday. 'If you're going to shoot me, you better shoot straight.' 'Trump hates us, he hates sanctuary cities,' Waters also said. 'He's trying to make an example out of us.' 'I want the crowds to grow and grow and grow. We learned a lot during the Civil Rights Movement,' the 86-year-old congresswoman continued. Newsom and Bass have insisted that the federal government's deployment of the National Guard is completely unnecessary. 'The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions,' Newsom said in a statement on Saturday. 'LA authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment's notice. We are in close coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need. The Guard has been admirably serving LA throughout recovery,' he added. 'This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust.' On Sunday, Bass also condemned the government's escalation in a Sunday morning interview with the Los Angeles Times. 'We tried to talk to the administration and tell them that there was absolutely no need to have troops on the ground here in Los Angeles,' Bass said. 'The protests that happened last night in L.A. were relatively minor, about 100 protesters. Los Angeles has been completely peaceful all day long.' 'This is posturing,' the mayor added. 'This is completely disruptive to a city that has already gone through so much in the first six months of the year.' Bass was likely referring to the multiple Southern California fires in January that the region continues to recover from. 'The city is not out of control,' Bass said. 'The protesters that vandalized since last night, that is unacceptable, and I'm sure they will be arrested and held accountable to the full extent of the law, but to say that the city is out of control, I don't know what city they're talking about.' Trump Plans To Yank Officers From Ports And Borders To Help Juice Deportation Numbers National Guard Troops Arrive In Los Angeles On Trump's Orders To Quell Immigration Protests Trump Deploys National Guard As Los Angeles Protests Against Immigration Agents Continue Protests And Outrage As Authorities Arrest Dozens For Immigration Violations Across LA