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Far-left lawmaker breaks silence after unearthed social media post ignites firestorm

Far-left lawmaker breaks silence after unearthed social media post ignites firestorm

Yahoo23-04-2025

Far-left Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., broke his silence on Tuesday after an unearthed social media post of rap lyrics set off a firestorm of controversy.
Frost, who recently made headlines for flying to El Salvador to visit deported illegal immigrant and alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was heavily criticized on social media after a seemingly cryptic tweet from 2016 resurfaced reading "f----- wit my gang gon get u spilled."
The post was in response to tweets including one by an account named "Hits LeBlunt." The line is from the song "Gang" by rapper "Max P."
The post generated a spate of concern and condemnation, with many saying it was unbecoming of a member of Congress to have such a post on his official account.
Trace Gallagher: The Left Is 'All In' On Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Even Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who has emerged as a key ally of the Trump administration, weighed in on the controversy by posting a shoulder shrug emoji.
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Rather than deleting the post, Frost simply responded to the controversy by saying, "Never thought Max P lyrics I tweeted at 19 would get so much attention from MAGA."
Frost also tweeted out "I've only ever been in one gang" with an image of him in his high school band.
Frost kept going, tweeting again on Tuesday, "Keep looking through my old posts. There has to be some more funny stuff in there. Make sure you tag me."
Democrats' El Salvador Trip Lampooned By Senate Gop Group In Faux Tourism Ad: '¡Bienvenidos!'
Frost's responses, however, did not quell the controversy, with users continuing to bash him for the tweet and many even posting AI meme images showing Frost with tattoos reading "DeMS-13."
Some seemed to find the controversy funny, such as conservative influencer Benny Johnson, who posted a screenshot of Bukele's roast of Frost with the caption, "never deleting this app."
Click Here For More Immigration Coverage
Conservative communicator Steve Guest posted a screenshot from Urban Dictionary defining "spilled" as "To be murdered. Most likely referring to blood being spilled."
Popular conservative account "End Wokeness" replied to Frost's 2016 tweet by saying, "DeMS-13 or Tren Dem Aragua?"
Others, like the popular account "DataRepublican," expressed that the tweet was not fitting for a member of Congress.
"You are a Congressman. You're not a gangster. You're not being cool or edgy. You are held to a high standard, as a representative of the mightiest nation on the Earth. Do better," the account commented.
House Dems Demand 'Proof Of Life' Of Abrego Garcia After Being Denied Meeting In El Salvador
Frost was one of five Democratic lawmakers who visited El Salvador last week to advocate for the release and return of Abrego Garcia from the Salvadoran mega prison known as the "Terrorist Confinement Center" (CECOT).
Posting on X from El Salvador, the congressman accused President Donald Trump of "illegally arresting, jailing, & deporting people with no due process."
"We must hold the Administration accountable for these illegal acts and demand Kilmar's release. Today it's him, tomorrow it could be anyone else," said Frost.
Besides Frost, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Reps. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., and Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., also flew to El Salvador on behalf of Abrego Garcia.Original article source: Far-left lawmaker breaks silence after unearthed social media post ignites firestorm

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Sherrill has built what has been perceived to be a front-runner status through taking a fairly traditional approach to gathering support from county party chairs and county conventions. Vowing to serve as a foil to the Trump administration, Sherrill has leaned into her military experience during this campaign, going so far as to wear her Navy flight jacket in the video distributed to announce her candidacy. 'In a crisis, the worst thing you can do is freeze. You have to choose to lead, to follow or get out of the way,' she said in the video after highlighting her military background. She has said she's running to bring a 'fresh perspective in Trenton' and that her first priorities would be addressing the cost of living and building more housing. When it comes to spending, she has said reforms are needed in the state system. 'We can't drive in more federal money. We've got to address the state budget system. We need more transparency,' Sherrill said. 'We have got to build houses and make New Jersey more affordable, housing more affordable." Spiller, 49, lives in Montclair. After just four years as Montclair's mayor, Spiller decided to forgo reelection in favor of pursuing higher office. He secured the backing of one of the state's most powerful labor unions, the New Jersey Education Association. He's also the union's president. While he points to some of the things he did in Montclair as ideas to spread statewide, his time in the township was not without issue. During a deposition in a lawsuit filed by a former employee against Montclair, Spiller invoked his Fifth Amendment right hundreds of times, refusing to answer any questions. Spiller has said he's running to give kids the future they deserve. His priority would also be to address the state's affordability crisis, and he said he wants to 'make this state a place where raising a family or starting a business is within reach for everyone — not just the wealthy.' When it comes to spending, Spiller has said the state often issues 'unfunded mandates' for municipalities. 'We have to look at more equitable ways to raise taxes as a state and use those taxes to support everyday residents," he said. Sweeney, 65, is a West Deptford resident and spent 20 years in the state Senate, 12 of them as president. He lost in a shocking upset in 2021. An ironworker by trade, Sweeney serves as general vice president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. Like Fulop, Sweeney was poised for a run in 2017 but ultimately opted not to run and eventually endorsed Gov. Phil Murphy. He has said he decided to run because he understands how Trenton works and knows 'how to get things done.' Sweeney's first priority would be fixing the budget process. He has said he 'would be doing multiyear budgeting and consensus forecasting with the Legislature, which requires the governor to give up some power so that we can get accurate budget forecasts.' He would also focus on housing. NJ Primary Election 2025: Our complete guide to voting, governor candidates, local races Primary issues: How would New Jersey's candidates for governor tackle affordability? Washington looms: What's the top issue in the NJ gubernatorial primary? Donald Trump's agenda Advertising: How much are the 2025 candidates for New Jersey governor spending on television ads so far? Bramnick, 72, lives in Westfield and has served in the Legislature for more than two decades. He got his start in Trenton in 2003 as a member of the Assembly, where he served as Republican leader from 2012 until 2021, when he won the Senate seat he currently holds. The senator is an attorney at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold and Mangan in Scotch Plains. He served on the City Council in Plainfield from 1984 to 1991. He was the first Republican to jump into the race. As a Never-Trump Republican, he has said more recently that he would work with the president in situations where it would benefit New Jersey and its residents. He entered the race to break up the 'Democrat monopoly New Jersey government has become' and to address high costs. Bramnick said his first priority is to create a government efficiency panel to 'examine every facet of our state government and find waste, overregulation and areas for improvement' as a way to 'make our state government smaller, more responsive, and provide savings and sustainable tax cuts.' The state senator has said New Jersey has corruption but believes it can be fixed. 'We have corruption in this state, so you need to appoint an attorney general who will make sure that he roots out corruption, same with the United States attorney, but this concept of 'deep state,' those are the kind of terms that you throw out there and what are you talking about?' he said. 'We have corruption and we need to address that, but 'deep state' because someone has been elected to the Legislature for a while, all of a sudden they are in the deep state. That's mythology that I think you hear on cable TV." Ciattarelli, 63, lives in Somerville. The former assemblyman made it clear he planned to run again after losing a closer-than-expected race to Murphy, the incumbent, in 2021. He served in the state Assembly from 2011 to 2018 and in county and local government before that. He lost in the 2017 primary to former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. Ciattarelli is running because he wants to provide opportunities for future generations. He has said his priority would be to cap property taxes, reform the school funding formula, audit state spending to find significant cuts, repeal the sanctuary state directive that he said made New Jersey a magnet for undocumented immigrants, and push for term limits on state legislators to bring in fresh ideas and new blood. The former assemblyman has not shied away from embracing the Trump administration, something he did not do when Trump was running in 2015. He spoke personally with the president at Trump's Bedminster golf course and has echoed Trump's sentiments regarding immigration. 'Executive order No. 1, no town in this state will be a sanctuary city and we will not be a sanctuary state,' Ciattarelli said. Spadea, 55, lives in Princeton. His campaign drew some attention in the beginning when 101.5 and Townsquare Media chose to keep him on the air until he became a legally qualified candidate. Attorneys for Bramnick and Ciattarelli alleged that his show gave him an unfair advantage in campaign donations and contributions. He ultimately ended the show before any restrictions were implemented. Spadea said he's running to 'make New Jersey affordable again.' His first priority would be to 'immediately end the illegal immigration crisis.' 'We're going to rescind the 2018 executive order and get rid of the sanctuary state. We're going to rescind the 2019 Immigrant Trust Directive,' he said. 'We're going to issue a series of executive orders … to stop phase four of this high-density housing nonsense that is crushing our suburban communities." Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@ This article originally appeared on NJ governor election 2025: Who are the candidates?

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