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an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
House Republican's Trump Talk Gets Not-So-Beautiful Response In Wild Town Hall Scene
Rep. Ashley Hinson's praise of President Donald Trump and his 'big, beautiful bill' didn't hold up on Wednesday as constituents hit back with jeers, boos and laughter during a town hall event in Decorah, Iowa. 'The president is, I believe, fighting for you and fighting for me —,' said Hinson (R-Iowa), just minutes into her prepared remarks at the event. 'No!' the crowd resoundingly shot back. Elsewhere in her remarks, Hinson got a sour reaction when she name-dropped Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), and she got jeered when she described 'all of the damage done' from Joe Biden's presidency before touting what she described as Trump's 'accomplishments.' 'I was also proud to vote for President Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' last week,' she said of legislation that could slash $1 trillion in health and food assistance programs to pay for about $4 trillion in tax cuts to mostly high earners. 'Boooooo!' replied the crowd as some attendees — seemingly supporting Hinson — sprinkled in claps. 'This is your time!' Hinson hit back. Hinson faced a similar reaction at a separate town hall event earlier in the day in Elkader, Iowa, per Cedar Rapids' ABC affiliate KCRG. The reaction to Hinson reflectsscenesat other townhallshostedby GOP lawmakers as they have attempted to defend their support for Trump in his second term. A spokesperson for Hinson, in a statement after the Decorah town hall to NBC News, said the congresswoman 'is not afraid to face anyone and defend her support for the Trump agenda that is going to help Iowa families, farmers, and workers.' Hinson on X, formerly Twitter, also defended her remarks at the town hall. 'I will always tell you where I stand. I enjoyed hearing from constituents at my in-person town halls today and sharing more about my work with President Trump to secure the border and lower taxes for the middle-class,' she wrote. 'Thanks to everyone who came out - I'll continue to be accessible and transparent to you.' Elon Musk Is Leaving The Trump Administration After Criticizing 'Big Beautiful Bill' Federal Trade Court Blocks Trump From Imposing Sweeping Tariffs Under Emergency Powers Law Bono Reminds Everyone Whose The Real 'Boss' Of America As Trump-Springsteen Feud Rages On
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
House Republican's Trump Talk Gets Not-So-Beautiful Response In Wild Town Hall Scene
Rep. Ashley Hinson's praise of President Donald Trump and his 'big, beautiful bill' didn't hold up on Wednesday as constituents hit back with jeers, boos and laughter during a town hall event in Decorah, Iowa. 'The president is, I believe, fighting for you and fighting for me —,' said Hinson (R-Iowa), just minutes into her prepared remarks at the event. 'No!' the crowd resoundingly shot back. Elsewhere in her remarks, Hinson got a sour reaction when she name-dropped Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), and she got jeered when she described 'all of the damage done' from Joe Biden's presidency before touting what she described as Trump's 'accomplishments.' 'I was also proud to vote for President Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' last week,' she said of legislation that could slash $1 trillion in health and food assistance programs to pay for about $4 trillion in tax cuts to mostly high earners. 'Boooooo!' replied the crowd as some attendees — seemingly supporting Hinson — sprinkled in claps. 'This is your time!' Hinson hit back. Hinson faced a similar reaction at a separate town hall event earlier in the day in Elkader, Iowa, per Cedar Rapids' ABC affiliate KCRG. Hinson: I believe President Trump is fighting for you—Crowd: No — Acyn (@Acyn) May 28, 2025 Hinson: I was proud to vote for President Trump's one big beautiful billCrowd: Boooooo — Acyn (@Acyn) May 28, 2025 The reaction to Hinson reflectsscenesat other townhallshostedby GOP lawmakers as they have attempted to defend their support for Trump in his second term. A spokesperson for Hinson, in a statement after the Decorah town hall to NBC News, said the congresswoman 'is not afraid to face anyone and defend her support for the Trump agenda that is going to help Iowa families, farmers, and workers.' Hinson on X, formerly Twitter, also defended her remarks at the town hall. 'I will always tell you where I stand. I enjoyed hearing from constituents at my in-person town halls today and sharing more about my work with President Trump to secure the border and lower taxes for the middle-class,' she wrote. 'Thanks to everyone who came out - I'll continue to be accessible and transparent to you.' I will always tell you where I stand. I enjoyed hearing from constituents at my in-person town halls today and sharing more about my work with President Trump to secure the border and lower taxes for the middle-class. Thanks to everyone who came out - I'll continue to be… — Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) May 28, 2025 Elon Musk Is Leaving The Trump Administration After Criticizing 'Big Beautiful Bill' Federal Trade Court Blocks Trump From Imposing Sweeping Tariffs Under Emergency Powers Law Bono Reminds Everyone Whose The Real 'Boss' Of America As Trump-Springsteen Feud Rages On
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk Exits Donald Trump Administration After 4 Months
Originally appeared on E! Online Elon Musk is done with his political duties. The Tesla CEO will step away from his government role in President 's administration, Musk shared on X (formerly Twitter) May 28. "As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending," he wrote. "The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Before his exit, Musk had recently criticized a Republican-backed domestic policy bill for increasing the deficit, per NBC News. "I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it," Musk told CBS' "Sunday Morning" in an interview airing June 1. "And undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing." Back in March, Trump told his cabinet that Musk would be vacating his position in the coming months, according to NBC News. More from E! Online Brad Pitt Breaks Silence on Finalizing Angelina Jolie Divorce Duck Dynasty's Korie Robertson Says Phil Robertson's Health Declined 'Really Rapidly' Before His Death Todd Chrisley Released From Prison After Donald Trump Pardon In a private March 24 cabinet meeting, Trump revealed Musk—who has lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) since the administration began in January—would be transitioning back to the private sector. The 47th president went on to call Musk a 'patriot' when cameras were brought in at the end of the meeting. 'He is a patriot,' Trump, 78, said, per NBC News. 'He's a friend of mine. He's become a friend of mine. He supported me in the election. That's when I got to know him. I knew him a little bit from the first term, but not much. But he's a patriot more than anything else.' Trump also lauded Musk for 'never' seeking personal favors. 'He has never asked me for a thing,' the Apprentice alum continued. 'He could have. I always say, I wonder if he's ever going to ask me for something, and that's always subject to change, and if it does change, I'll let you know about it. But Elon has never asked me for a thing.' As for why Musk, 53, is vacating his role? Trump noted his pal had other business to attend to—but wouldn't confirm the fate of DOGE. 'He's got a big company to run, and so at some point he's going to be going back,' Trump told reporters at a March 31 press conference. 'I keep [sic] him as long as I could keep him. He's a very talented guy. You know, I love very smart people. He's very smart, and he's done a good job.' Indeed, Trump has been supported by Musk since the campaign trail and even had the SpaceX founder by his side at his Inauguration in January. A month later, Musk brought his and ex Grimes' 4-year-old son X Æ A-Xii Musk, to the White House for a meeting with the president. And while Trump had his desk sent out to be refinished shortly after Musk's son was caught wiping his boogers on it, the president had nothing but glowing praise for the toddler. 'He's a great guy," Trump said. 'High-IQ individual.' Meanwhile, Grimes—who also shares Exa, 3, and Techno Machanicus, 2, with Musk—later shared she 'did not know' or approve of the visit, but told a fan who effused over her son's manners over X, 'I'm glad he was polite. Sigh.' Keep reading for a thorough look at Trump's cabinet... (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.) Vice President JD VanceSecretary of State Marco RubioSecretary of Treasury Scott BessentSecretary of Defense Pete HegsethAttorney General Pam BondiSecretary of Interior Doug BurgumSecretary of Agriculture Brooke RollinsSecretary of Commerce Howard LutnickSecretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemerSecretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy of Housing and Urban Development Scott TurnerSecretary of Transportation Sean DuffySecretary of Energy Chris WrightSecretary of Education Linda McMahonSecretary of Veterans Affairs Doug CollinsSecretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
NBC News
an hour ago
- Business
- NBC News
Elon Musk officially leaves the White House
Elon Musk's days working at the White House are over. The billionaire Tesla CEO, enlisted by President Donald Trump to cut waste in the federal government, started offboarding from his role Wednesday night, a White House official told NBC News. Musk's move came a day after he criticized a Republican bill to fund much of Trump's agenda. Musk commented on his exit Wednesday on X, his social media platform. He called for the 'DOGE mission' to become 'a way of life throughout the government,' referring to his Department of Government Efficiency initiative. 'As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,' wrote Musk, the richest person in the world. NBC News has reported that special government employees, a class of temporary worker that included Musk, can typically work up to 130 days in a calendar year, though the days can be split up. The White House first publicly acknowledged Musk's role on Feb. 3, so he was most likely nearing the end of that tenure. Musk's official departure came at a charged moment in his relationship with Trump. On Tuesday, CBS News' 'Sunday Morning' shared a clip of him sharing his disappointment in the 'massive spending bill' that he said 'undermines' the work of his DOGE operation, which has aimed to reduce federal spending by slashing the size of the federal workforce, cutting government programs and eliminating grants deemed wasteful. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the Republican funding package would add $2.3 trillion to the federal deficit over 10 years, largely due to the extensions of Trump's 2017 tax cuts and new expenditures that outweigh the savings. Musk initially set out to cut upwards of $2 trillion dollars through the operation, though he later significantly walked back that goal. Now he leaves the government with DOGE having thus far fallen well short of the trillions of dollars of savings that he had once touted on the campaign trail. As of Wednesday evening, the DOGE government website claimed $175 billion in savings, though its claims have been found to be questionable. Trump responded to Musk's criticisms Wednesday afternoon in the Oval Office, defending the funding package. The president said the legislation would deliver on several of his key priorities, but he also noted the complexities of passing such a sprawling bill through a sharply divided House. 'My reaction's a lot of things. No. 1, we have to get a lot of votes. We can't be cutting a — you know — we need to get a lot of support, and we have a lot of support. We had to get it through the House,' Trump said. Musk was among the most visible people in the early days of the second Trump administration, securing the president's favor after fueling his 2024 presidential campaign with upwards of $250 million dollars, according to campaign finance reports. The tech mogul was frequently seen alongside Trump, often wearing a Trump hat while appearing with one of his young children. Musk appeared to relish his role as Trump's waste and fraud czar, taking the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February with a sizable chainsaw to tout his cost-cutting initiative. Musk also at one point threatened to use his wealth to fund challengers to any Republicans that dared to oppose Trump's agenda. But behind the scenes, tensions mounted between Musk and other Trump administration members, with some of those making their way to the public through news reports about tense meetings and shouting matches. Musk also took some of his grievances public, including criticism of Trump's tariffs. Meanwhile, Musk's public profile suffered — as did the perception of his most consumer-centric business, Tesla. Public poll numbers showed that he and DOGE were relatively unpopular, and Tesla vehicles and dealerships became the target of protests and vandalism. Tesla's stock is down 11% so far this year. Trump continued to support Musk, at one point in March turning the South Lawn of the White House into an impromptu Tesla showroom and buying one of the vehicles. Musk's power, both in terms of his cash contributions as well as his political clout, took a hit in late March when Republicans lost a high-profile judicial election in Wisconsin in which Musk spent heavily and became a target for Democrats. Musk had maintained that his participation in the Trump administration and DOGE was temporary, but in recent weeks he has signaled that he may pull back from politics more broadly. Last week, he said he planned to scale down his sizable spending on politics, though said he would spend in the future if he saw a reason to do so. 'I don't currently see a reason,' he said. While Musk has said DOGE will continue to operate, it's unclear just how much pull it will have without him at the helm.
NBC News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
The internet thinks this video from Gaza is AI. Here's how we proved it isn't
New video posted to social media from southern Gaza became the center of a heated internet debate about whether it was generated using artificial intelligence. The video, which started circulating Tuesday, shows a person in a camouflage-print face covering and baseball cap making a heart sign and a 'shaka' sign with their hands in front of a large crowd of Palestinians gathered along rows of fences, waiting for food aid at the Tal as Sultan distribution site in Rafah. A combined analysis from NBC News and Get Real Security, a cybersecurity company that specializes in detecting generative AI, found no evidence of AI generation or manipulation in the video. NBC News geolocated the video to inside the Tal as Sultan aid distribution site, recently constructed by Israel's civilian policy unit — the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) — in partnership with the Gazan Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The chief spokesperson for the GHF confirmed with NBC News that this video was originally distributed by their team but could not confirm the identity of the person in the video. 'Any claim that our documentation is fake or generated by AI is false and irresponsible,' the foundation said in a statement. Satellite imagery from Planet Labs and drone footage taken by the Israeli military show the same row of light poles and lines of fencing in the video. Additional collapsed structures and foliage rise behind and between the poles across a dirt lot in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea. Shortly after the video was posted to X, users began fighting in the comments about its authenticity. 'This video is AI generated,' one user wrote. 'Nothing can be believed because it could just as easily have been AI generated.' 'I am not seeing any obvious signs that this video is AI-generated,' Hany Farid, co-founder of Get Real Security and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, told NBC News. 'We see strong continuity in features as the camera pans back and forth, something that generative AI struggles with,' Farid said, noting specific details like the crisp 'Ray Ban' logo on the side of the sunglasses worn by the person sporting the baseball cap, as well as the consistency of the shadows made by various objects in the video. Farid noted that the audio track appears to be consistent with what's shown in the video itself — down to the sound of the wind and someone saying in English, 'Isn't that crazy? Look at that.' A reverse image search revealed that the person making gestures to the crowd was wearing a pair of Oakley S.I. gloves, which have been seen worn by U.S. contractors in Gaza as recently as January.
