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Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Immigration Comments Go Viral
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former Republican governor of California, has waded into the immigration debate during a forthright appearance on The View, with his remarks going viral across social media platforms. "You have a responsibility as an immigrant to pay back to America," the Austrian-born actor said. "When you come to America, you're a guest and you have to behave like a guest." Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Schwarzenegger outside of regular working hours via email for comment. Why It Matters Schwarzenegger's comments come after Los Angeles, where he lives, faced protest and unrest following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raiding several downtown neighborhoods as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. Protests later spread to other states. The administration has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history, authorizing ICE raids around the country. Some arrests have been perceived as heavy-handed. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted June 11–12 found Americans divided over President Donald Trump's deployment of military forces in L.A., with 48 percent supporting the move and 41 percent opposing it. Overall, while 52 percent of respondents favored increased deportations, 49 percent thought the administration had gone too far. Arnold Schwarzenegger attends a SiriusXM Town Hall hosted by Andy Cohen at SiriusXM Studios on June 17, 2025 in New York City. Arnold Schwarzenegger attends a SiriusXM Town Hall hosted by Andy Cohen at SiriusXM Studios on June 17, 2025 in New York SiriusXM What To Know Schwarzenegger was asked The View's co-host Joy Behar about his reaction to "What ICE is doing." In response, Schwarzenegger, who served as governor from 2003 to 2011, said that he is "so proud and happy that I was embraced by the American people like that... In no other country in the world could you do that." He added: "The key thing is, we got to do things legal. "Those people that are doing things illegal, and they're the foreigners, they are not smart. When you come to America, you're a guest and you have to behave like a guest." It's not the first time that Schwarzenegger, who is currently promoting the second series of his Netflix show Fubar, has addressed the topic of immigration. At the Season Two premiere of Fubar, he told Variety, when asked about Trump's decision to send in the National Guard to the protests in L.A.: "Politicians have the responsibility to create immigration reform, so we don't have to have this crap going on in the first place." "This is the result of Democrats and Republicans not being able to come together in this immigration reform. And so that's what needs to be done so that you don't have to go and start arresting people in the first place, so we know who is in this country and who is working here, who has the temporary working permit, who has the permanent working permit," Schwarzenegger said. The clip was shared by @bennyjohnson on X where it received 7.7 million views as of the time this article was published, and again by @OliLondonTV where it received a further 2 million views. During his tenure as California's governor, Schwarzenegger often walked a centrist line on immigration. He advocated for border security while also supporting pathways to legal residency, criticizing both major parties for their failure to deliver lasting immigration reform. What People Are Saying Benny Johnson, a media personality who has contributed to several conservative outlets, on X: "Arnold Schwarzenegger, a legal immigrant, successful actor, and former California Governor, just left The View STUNNED... Absolute masterclass." Rob Schneider, the actor, who endorsed Donald Trump in 2024, on X: "Weight Lifter Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't worried about riots in his guard gated community."
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump's 'Anti-Christian Bias' Effort Put in Action by Veterans Affairs
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a new task force to investigate claims of anti-Christian discrimination within its ranks, part of a wider Trump administration initiative to prioritize religious freedom—especially for Christians—across federal agencies. VA Secretary Doug Collins sent a department-wide email this week, obtained by The Associated Press, urging employees to report instances of "anti-Christian discrimination." The email requests detailed information, including names, dates, and locations, be submitted to an internal email account. According to Collins, this includes cases involving denial of religious exemptions for vaccine mandates, reprimands over Christian symbols, workplace hostility toward Christian views, and retaliation for refusing to participate in procedures like abortions or hormone therapy. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins joins host Julie Mason for a SiriusXM Town Hall on April 22, 2025, in Washington, DC. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins joins host Julie Mason for a SiriusXM Town Hall on April 22, 2025, in Washington, DC. AFP/Getty Images This move coincides with the launch of a government-wide task force announced by President Donald Trump, focused on identifying and eliminating anti-Christian bias. Led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, the two-year initiative will involve representatives from across the Cabinet and is expected to review agency policies, correct alleged injustices, and issue recommendations to address what the administration claims were discriminatory practices under President Biden's leadership. The VA's internal task force is being formed amid broader uncertainty within the agency. A planned restructuring could eliminate over 80,000 jobs, prompting unease among staff already grappling with the agency's shifting priorities. Other agencies, including the State Department, are reportedly establishing similar internal hotlines for reporting religious discrimination. The broader initiative has been lauded by some conservative and Christian advocacy groups as a bold defense of religious liberty. However, critics warn that the effort risks privileging one faith tradition at the expense of others and undermines the constitutional principle of church-state separation. "All people, including Christians, should be able to live as themselves and believe as they choose so long as they don't harm others," said Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "But rather than protecting religious beliefs, this task force will misuse religious freedom to justify bigotry, discrimination, and the subversion of our civil rights laws." Senator Richard Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, condemned the VA's actions as lacking justification and warned they could fracture the agency's religious neutrality. "Since our nation's birth, veterans have fought and died to preserve our freedoms — including to live free from religious intolerance or interference by government," Blumenthal said. "The First Amendment ensures that all religions and faiths are treated equally, with full freedom of worship. The government should be vigilant never to endorse or favor one religion above others." This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available. Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
