Raw Story

Donald Trump's most ardent supporters have been battling with the billionaire and business class after a fight broke out between Elon Musk and Trump ally Laura Loomer over H-1B visas.

While Trump has a long documented history of trashing H-1B visas and advocating for their removal, Musk and another so-called "tech bro," Vivek Ramaswamy, said the visas were necessary to find skilled people to undertake the jobs required in the tech industry. MAGA maintains that immigration goes against the America First agenda.

Speaking to MSNBC on Monday, Republican strategist Susan del Percio suggested that members of his base will follow him — even if they disagree with his positions.

Also Read: The one belief that predicted Trump voters with scary accuracy

"I think Trump wins with his base, no matter which side he takes. He'll always win with the base because they follow him pretty much blindly," she said.

Others, like Steve Bannon and Loomer, "are talking about ending basically a possibility of legal immigration and legal entry into the country. That's not what Donald Trump talked about on his campaign. Yes, he's kind of hinted that he was against it before, and now he's for it."

Del Percio called it "such a stupid fight for them to pick because Donald Trump will win it, because he will win it by coming out or acting strong on deportation."

Former Bill Clinton administration deputy assistant Matt Bennett pointed to Trump's pledge to deport more than 9 million immigrants. He predicted that Trump is "not going to get the job done that he promised."

But Del Percio said it won't matter if Trump fails to keep his promise if he deports, "a certain amount of criminals, for example." The workers' visa issue will, she said, be quickly forgotten.

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A Democratic senator was shocked to admit that one of the "best tributes" to former President Jimmy Carter came from an unlikely source.

Taking to X on Monday, less than 24 hours after Carter's death was announced, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) posted a statement from outgoing Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (KY).

"Jimmy Carter served as our commander-in-chief for four years, but he served as the beloved, unassuming Sunday school teacher at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia for 40. And his humble devotion leaves us little doubt which of those two important roles he prized the most," read McConnell's statement.

Whitehouse responded: "The best tribute comes from Mitch McConnell. Who knew?"

Also Read: Habitat for Humanity pioneer remembers Jimmy Carter's charitable efforts

In 2018, Carter published his book "Faith: A Journey for All."

Speaking to CBS News' Norah O'Donnell about the book, the former president said, “I still have faith in the long-term correction of our problems.”

"It is urgent that humans take a new look at the rapidly growing need for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Ten Commandments, the Koran, or the teachings of Jesus Christ and to see if these visions of improved human interrelationships might be used to meet the challenges of the present moment and evolve a future of peaceful coexistence, based on faith in each other," Carter wrote in the introduction of the book.

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Elon Musk, the billionaire co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency, suggested he could oppose Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) for speaker of the House — moments after promising "full support" for the Republican lawmaker.

In a post on the X social media platform, Johnson thanked President-elect Donald Trump for his "Complete & Total endorsement."

"Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN," Trump wrote in support of Johnson.

"I feel the same way!" Musk replied. "You have my full support."

ALSO READ: Merrick Garland's last task and the explosive evidence that could save America

But less than an hour later, the billionaire changed his tune when Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said he would not support Johnson despite Trump's endorsement.

Massie argued Trump's "endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan."

"You might be right, but let's see how it goes," Musk agreed.

A former police chief in West Virginia has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for sex trafficking a teen girl and then subsequently trying to hinder investigators.

Larry Clay Jr., 58, former police chief in Fayetteville, was convicted of child sex trafficking and obstruction of justice last year. He served as the chief of police for the Gauley Bridge Police Department and was also an employee of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department.

Prosecutors sought a life sentence for Clay, The Washington Post reported. Clay did not react when he received his sentence.

The Post reported that the victim, who is now 22, told Clay in court: “You were supposed to help keep people safe. You used your badge and took advantage of your power and took whatever you wanted."

“Because of you, I’m still looking over my shoulder to make sure I’m not being watched, and watching what I wear because I still feel like sweatpants and a hoodie is too revealing. I might never be the same again, but you won’t ever make anyone else a victim of your games. I’ll never forget what you did, and I’m not forgiving you for what you did. I’m forgiving you so I can heal," she said.

Clay paid $100 to co-defendant Kristen Naylor-Legg to engage in sexual misconduct with her 17-year-old relative on two occasions in June 2020, authorities said. Clay remained in his police uniform for the duration of each assault, authorities added.

ALSO READ: New Trump foreign affairs pick has history of forging ties with right-wing authoritarians

The first incident happened in his government-issued vehicle on a rural county road and the second took place inside the old Gauley Bridge High School building, in a location restricted to certain people including police. Law enforcement authorities found DNA evidence on a discarded washcloth.

“Larry Allen Clay’s crimes are particularly heinous, as he was in a position of trust and respect within his community,” said Derek W. Gordon, special agent in charge at Homeland Security Investigations. "Clay violated that trust and victimized a minor. HSI will work tirelessly to ensure that there is no refuge for child sexual predators who believe they can pursue their perverse behavior with impunity; they cannot escape justice and there will be serious consequences for their heinous actions.”

In September 2020, Clay tried to persuade his co-defendant to lie to investigators about the incidents and asked a law enforcement officer if his crimes could be concealed, officials said.

Naylor-Legg pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking in 2021.

News that Neil Cavuto, the longtime on-air Fox News personality whose broadcast career spanned nearly three decades, will sign off from the network on Thursday sparked a steady stream of conservative reaction – with even Donald Trump weighing in.

And the president-elect isn’t disappointed by Cavuto’s departure.

“GOOD NEWS FOR AMERICA! Neil Cavuto, the Lowest Rated Anchor on Fox, by far, is leaving - Should have happened a long time ago!” Trump wrote to his followers on Truth Social Thursday afternoon.

Trump and Cavuto had a history of clashing, with the conservative host not shying away from criticizing Trump during the campaign. An army of MAGA supporters followed Trump’s lead Thursday in bashing Cavuto throughout social media on his last day at Fox.

“Farewell to Trump hater and all-around beta male Neil Cavuto at @Foxnews and the one brown suit he wore on the air for 30 years!” former Newsmax reporter Emerald Robinson told her followers on X. “Let's sum up his broadcast career in two words: NOBODY CARED.”

“Wonderful news!!!” posted Juanita Broaddrick. “Sad sack Cavuto leaving FOX after 28 years. One of the biggest Trump haters on Fox.”

But the news also whipped up praise for the primetime journalist – particularly from others in media.

CNN media analyst Brian Stelter called Cavuto’s retirement the “End of a Fox era.”

READ MORE: Even 'devout Christians' are appalled as OK mulls $3.3 million bid on 'Trump Bibles' for schools

“I enjoy @TeamCavuto so much! I will miss his wit and curiosity and standards. Hate to see him go.” Journalist Michele Tafoya told her X followers.

“Just saw that Neil Cavuto is leaving Fox after 28 years,” Fox News host Howard Kurtz wrote in his own social media post. “He has made enormous contributions, while battling serious health problems. But he is also a first-class human being who is gracious to everyone, whether they are high or low on the totem poll. We will miss him!”

NewsNation anchor Connell McShane said Cavuto was the person he admires and respects “more than anyone else in our crazy business.”

“He has always set a professional example for the rest of us to follow. Plus, he's a TERRIFIC human being, and he's hilarious. All the best, Neil. You're the best,” he wrote.

Fox News wrote a similarly glowing message about the departing journalist in a statement where the network wished him “a heartfelt farewell and all the best on his next chapter.”

“Neil Cavuto’s illustrious career has been a master class in journalism and we’re extremely proud of his incredible 28-year run with Fox News Media,” the network said in a statement. “His programs have defined business news and set the standard for the entire industry. We wish him.”

An Arkansas Republican poured cold water on any notions of a possible House Speaker Elon Musk.

With chaos erupting in the House this week over a spending agreement that had to be renegotiated after interference by tech billionaire and Trump confidante Musk, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) faces real jeopardy. Some Republicans, like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), have even suggested making Musk himself speaker in his place.

Such a move is possible as the Constitution doesn't require the speaker to be an elected House member.

But Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), the former chair of the powerful House Budget Committee, told CNN's Brianna Keilar that was not going to happen — not least because Musk himself wouldn't even want the job.

"I want to ask you about Elon Musk because he's the one who raised this demand publicly," said Keilar. "He's wielding a lot of power right now. And what do you think about some of your colleagues being open to him being speaker? Would you support that?"

"Well, I don't — I don't think that's a realistic idea," said Womack. "First of all, Elon's got to want to do it. And I think when he looks at what Mike Johnson has been through, what Kevin McCarthy had been through, what all speakers have to go through, he'll probably find that launching and recovering rockets, building EVs, revitalizing social media platforms is a heck of a lot easier and much more profitable than becoming Speaker of the House."

ALSO READ: It’s time to decimate the Republicans’ standing with the public — and the press

Womack also aimed some of his fellow Republicans, including Greene and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who are calling for the government to shut down until President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in — calling it a disastrous idea, as Keilar noted his state was full of military bases that depend on that funding.

"Shutting the government down is counterintuitive to anything that I believe," said Womack. "I'm a former mayor. So, you know, government is made to work. And like I said earlier, when people say or advocate for a government shutdown, they are ignoring the absolute results of that ... the problem with shutting the government down is eventually it has to be reopened. And under what conditions would it be reopened? If you are able to extract concessions from the other side, then that's one thing. But if they're dug in and they're not going to give, then before long you're going to see the real impact on everyday Americans that a government shutdown actually proposes."

"The results of that, I think, would be disastrous to both the new majorities in the House and the Senate, and the incoming president," he added.

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