Politics

Trump wins Mackinac conference straw poll with 47.5% of vote

MACKINAC ISLAND, MI – Conservatives from across the state of Michigan flocked to Mackinac Island this weekend for the state’s biennial Republican Leadership Conference.

Aside from taking in the stunning views of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron or enjoying a one-of-a-kind trip back in time at the island’s “Grand Hotel,” attendees also heard from big-name Republicans from across the country — including Texas Senator Ted Cruz, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.

While the meeting is meant to serve as an opportunity for Michigan Republicans to exchange ideas and chart the party’s path forward, the event’s secret-ballot straw poll gives an unofficial indication as to who Michiganders would like to see atop the Republican ticket in 2024.

To nobody’s surprise, former President Donald J. Trump took the top spot with 47.5%. That’s according to The Detroit News which sponsored the straw poll.

While heads and shoulders above any other potential candidate, the mark is lower than the former President’s vote-share at CPAC in Dallas in July where he took home 70% of the vote. By comparison, the 45th President secured 55% of the vote at February’s CPAC in Orlando.

About 740 people, all Republicans, were surveyed for this weekend’s poll, according to The Detroit News.

The second-highest vote-getter was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, with about 25% of the vote — consistent with his straw poll performances at both CPACs this year. Both CPACs, however, included polls with a potential list of candidates that did not include former President Trump’s name. DeSantis was the clear winner at both conferences in those polls.

Rounding out the top five in Mackinac: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem finished third with 8% of the vote, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz had 6% as did former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.

In terms of the influence former President Trump holds over Michigan Republicans, 44% said a Trump endorsement would not impact whether they support a candidate or not.

In terms of the issues Republican voters at the conference found to be most important, The Detroit News reports that 28% chose “election integrity,” which ended up topping the list. Taxes and spending followed close behind at 25%, abortion received 11% of the vote and inflation garnered 10%.

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In terms of combatting COVID-19, 56% of respondents said government does not have a role in mitigating the pandemic.

Rep. Brady slams for creating an ‘economic and political crisis’ with excess spending

Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, argued on Fox News’ “Sunday Mornings Futures” that Democrats are creating an “economic and political crisis” as he discussed government spending.

He argued that Democrats are trying to “ram through” trillions of dollars’ worth of “crippling tax hikes” and the “expansion of the welfare state,” noting that they have “also failed to keep the government open, failed to provide disaster relief to Louisiana and a lot of other states and of course haven’t raised the debt ceiling.”

The ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee told host Maria Baritromo that he believes Democrats are “more interested in playing political games with the debt ceiling” than “actually passing it and raising it.”

The Senate is expected to vote as soon as Monday on a House-passed bill that will keep the government funded through early December and raise the $28 trillion debt ceiling.

But the bill is almost certainly doomed in the upper chamber, where all but four Republican senators have promised to vote against it due to the inclusion of the debt limit. Democrats would need to secure the support of at least 10 GOP lawmakers to overcome a filibuster.

It is unclear what comes next. Without a short-term spending bill, the government is set to shut down next week. At the same time, the federal government will run out of cash to pay its bills sometime in October unless the debt ceiling is raised or suspended, according to multiple warnings from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Democrats have said a shutdown on their watch is not an option and have pledged to do whatever it takes to keep the government open. That could force the party to delink the debt ceiling from the short-term spending bill.

Brady argued on Sunday that Democrats have “known this debt ceiling for two years was coming [and] they never passed a budget, haven’t had a single discussion with Republicans about how we tackle our financial future as a country, and they have the ability to pass this debt ceiling on their own.”

“The question is: will they do that? My guess is, only if they’re forced to,” he continued.

Brady also warned on Sunday that the reconciliation bill will impose devastating tax increases on low and middle income Americans.

DEMS’ RECONCILIATION BILL HAS $6B TRANSPORTATION ‘SLUSH FUND’ THAT GOP AIDE WARNS COULD FUND BACKDOOR EARMARKS

Brady made the comments on the same day House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said House Democrats will pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill this week and come to an agreement on their $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, despite the massive differences between moderates and progressives.

The House speaker also said on ABC’s “This Week” that Democrats will “absolutely” need to come to an agreement on the reconciliation package before the infrastructure bill can pass. This was a nod to House progressives who say several dozen of their members will vote against the infrastructure bill without assurances on reconciliation.

Pelosi said in a letter to House Democrats Saturday that she plans to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the reconciliation bill by Thursday. That simultaneously gives her some wiggle room on the vote for the infrastructure bill, which was originally planned for Monday but may slip a couple of days, and gives Democrats very little margin for error on the reconciliation bill.

The House Budget Committee in a rare Saturday meeting approved the text for the reconciliation bill with one Democratic “no” vote, but with a wide gulf between party progressives and moderates the bill is subject to change significantly.

Pelosi’s strategy of moving the reconciliation bill so quickly appears to be part of an effort to get progressives on board with the infrastructure bill, which they say they will not vote for unless they have assurances that the reconciliation bill will pass.

It is unclear if the gambit will work, but moderates have expressed confidence that she will be able to whip together enough votes for the infrastructure bill to pass.

On Sunday, Brady discussed the tax increases that are expected in the reconciliation bill and said that he has “never seen Washington spend so much to kill so many American jobs, to raise prices even higher and to expand the welfare state,” calling it “the greatest expansion in our lifetime.”

“This is an economic surrender to China, Russia and Europe, with saddling American businesses with some of the highest tax rates in the world, which will drive and kill, we think, about 3 million jobs,” Brady continued, noting that many of those jobs will be driven overseas and would “make it easier to be a foreign company or worker than a U.S. company or worker.”

He also warned that small businesses will be faced with “devastating tax increases” that are struggling “to get out of this pandemic economy and get Americans back to work.”

Brady argued that “this breaks President Biden’s pledge to not raise taxes on the low and middle income families.”

President Biden repeatedly pledged during the 2020 campaign not to raise taxes for Americans earning less than $400,000, but an analysis suggests that nearly 60% of taxpayers would pay more under his proposals.

Findings from the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, show that while most of Biden’s proposed tax increases would be paid by those earning more than $800,000 annually, a small burden would also be borne by some middle-income families.

Three-quarters of households earning between $75,000 and $100,000 annually would face paying an additional $440 per year in taxes under Biden’s tax hikes, according to the data.

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Fox News’ Tyler Olson, Chad Pergram, and FOX Business’ Megan Henney contributed to this report.

Pelosi says Dems will pass infrastructure bill this week, can agree on reconciliation package

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Sunday said House Democrats will pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill this week and come to an agreement on their $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, despite the massive differences between moderates and progressives.

“Let me just say we’re going to pass the bill this week,” Pelosi, D-Calif., said of the infrastructure bill on ABC’s “This Week.” “But you know I’m never bringing a bill to the floor that doesn’t have the votes. And I think any time you put in an arbitrary date… you cannot choose the date, you have to go when you have the votes.”

HOUSE DEMS PREPARE TO VOTE ON INFRASTRUCTURE, RECONCILIATION BILLS

The House speaker also said on “This Week” that Democrats will “absolutely” need to come to an agreement on the reconciliation package before the infrastructure bill can pass. This was a nod to House progressives who say several dozen of their members will vote against the infrastructure bill without assurances on reconciliation.

DEMS’ RECONCILIATION BILL HAS $6B TRANSPORTATION ‘SLUSH FUND’ THAT GOP AIDE WARNS COULD FUND BACKDOOR EARMARKS

“It’s all the wonderful legislative process that we have,” Pelosi said, dismissing comments from “This Week” anchor George Stephanopoulos about how daunting Democrats’ legislative task is.

“Building Back Better has the support of over 95% of our caucus…. There are some who disagree and I respect that about the size of the package, and a couple in the Senate as well,” she continued. “And we have to find our common ground, respectful of each other’s views … this isn’t about moderates versus progressives.”

As part of the negotiating process, Pelosi said it is nearly certain the price tag of the reconciliation bill will drop to a lower number than $3.5 trillion.

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It is unclear if the gambit will work, but moderates have expressed confidence that she will be able to whip together enough votes for the infrastructure bill to pass.

Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.

Trump turns up heat in attacks on top Georgia Republicans, touts pro-Trump candidates

Former President Trump returned to Georgia this weekend, to amplify his attacks on the key battleground state’s top elected Republican leaders and to showcase a trio of candidates loyal to the former president.

For Trump, the trip to Georgia was personal – it came as he’s still trying to overturn his razor thin defeat to now-President Biden in Georgia, more than 10 months after losing the White House in the 2020 election. And Trump used his rally at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, in the central part of the state, to target conservative Gov. Brian Kemp, Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, and GOP Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for refusing the then-president’s calls to overturn the election results in Georgia.

TRUMP MOVES POLITICAL HQ BACK TO MAR-A-LAGO

Trump charged in comments to the large crowd that last year’s contest was “the most corrupt election in the history of the country,” as he once again repeated his unfounded claims that presidential election was “rigged” and “stolen” from him.

And the former president urged his supporters to oust Kemp and Raffensperger in next year’s elections, saying “the people of Georgia must replace the RINOs and weak Republicans who made it all possible.” “RINO” stands for Republican in name only.

Former President Donald Trump greets supporters during his Save America rally in Perry, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Ben Gray) (AP)

Kemp, who along with Raffensperger is running for reelection next year, narrowly defeated Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams in 2018. But Trump said that he would have rather seen Abrams win. “Stacey, would you like to take his place?” the former president stated. “It’s OK with me.”

While he’s yet to back a candidate to challenge Kemp in the 2022 Republican primary, Trump once again appeared to try and recruit former Sen. David Perdue to take on the governor.

“Are you running for governor, David Perdue? Did I hear you’re running for governor?” the former president said.

Trump’s endorsed Rep. Jody Hice in his primary challenge against Raffensperger. Hice scored a big hit with the crowd when he vowed to “get rid of Brad Raffensperger.”

Another candidate the former president’s backed who spoke at the rally was state Sen. Burt Jones, a Trump loyalist who’s bidding for lieutenant governor to succeed Duncan, who decided against running for reelection.

TRUMP, WITH SPATE OF ENDORSEMENTS, GOES WHERE NO FORMER PRESIDENT’S GONE BEFORE

Georgia is one of handful of states where Biden narrowly edged Trump to win the White House. The ballots in Georgia were counted three times – the original Election Day count, a mandatory hand recount and a recount requested by the president’s campaign. Dozens of legal challenges by Trump and his allies were shot down in Georgia and the other close states, and then-Attorney General William Barr said his Justice Department had not seen fraud on the kind of scale that could flip the election.

The former president’s continuing his efforts to overturn the Georgia results. A week ago Trump sent a letter to Raffensperger, asking him to consider “decertifying” the election results due to alleged irregularities.

Two months after Biden became the first Democrat to carry Georgia in a presidential contest in a quarter century, the Republicans lost their Senate majority after the Democrats swept – by razor thin margins – Georgia’s twin Jan. 6 Senate runoff elections. Republicans view Sen. Raphael Warnock, who was elected in the runoffs, as one of the most vulnerable Democrats running for reelection next year.

Former President Donald Trump listens as Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker speaks during his Save America rally in Perry, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Ben Gray) (AP )

Earlier this month Trump endorsed Herschel Walker, his longtime friend and former professional and college football star, who after the repeated urgings of the former president, launched a Senate campaign late last month. Walker, who gave his first campaign speech at Saturday evening’s rally, was feted with thunderous applause from crowd, many of whom were sporting “Run Herschel Run” stickers.

FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH TO FUNDRAISER FOR CHENEY, SETTING UP CLASH WITH TRUMP

Trump remains very popular with the Republican base and retains tremendous sway over GOP politicians. And Saturday’s rally was more evidence the former president remains committed to playing a kingmaker’s role in party politics, as he heavily weighs in on the 2022 GOP primaries.

Trump’s 2024 caveat

While Trump’s Georgia rally was all about re-litigating his 2020 election loss and putting his imprint on the 2022 midterms, he once again flirted with a potential 2024 run to try and return to the White House

The former president teased a “glorious victory in November of 2024. We’re going to have a big, big, beautiful victory.”

But in an interview with David Brody of the Real America’s Voice network on the eve of the Georgia rally, the 75-year old Trump said that only “a bad call from a doctor” could prevent him from running again.

TRUMP FLIRTING DOESN’T STOP OTHER POTENTIAL 2024 REPUBLICANS FROM VISITING EARLY VOTING STATES

“I will say, that happens with people,” Trump noted, before adding that “you know, I feel so good.”

Cruz, Noem, speak at influential Republican confab

An appearance this weekend by Sen. Ted Cruz in Michigan at the biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference sparked more speculation that the runner up to Trump in the 2016 GOP presidential nomination race is ramping up for another White House run in 2024.

The senator from Texas repeatedly targeted President Biden over the rocky U.S. withdrawal and evacuation from Afghanistan, as well as the immigration crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border. And he looked optimistically ahead to the 2022 midterms and the 2024 presidential election.

“Politics has always had a pendulum aspect to it,” the conservative firebrand told the crowd at the storied GOP confab. “Throughout American history, when one party gets in power, they go too far in one direction and the American people have a great tendency to say, ‘Hold on.'”

CRUZ IOWA SWING BUTS TEXAS SENATOR FIRMLY BACK IN 2024 SPOTLIGHT

Another Republican leader with potential national ambitions – South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem – also spoke at the conference.

Who’s number two – Pence or DeSantis?

Trump remains the overwhelming front runner in all of the extremely early polls in the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race.

But two surveys released this past week had very different takes on who’s a distant second, and who’s the leader of the pack without the former president on the ballot.

PENCE, IN IOWA, TAKES AIM AT BIDEN

Former Vice President Mike Pence was runner up to Trump in a Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University/Harris Poll conducted Sept. 15-16. And Pence topped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for front runner status without Trump in the field.

But the Florida governor topped the former vice president in a national survey of Republicans by the GOP polling firm Echelon Insights that was conducted Sept. 17-23.

DeSantis, who faces a potentially challenging reelection next year, continues to spark more 2024 speculation with his political trips outside of the Sunshine State.

The Buffalo News this past week broke the story that DeSantis will team up with top New York State Republican officials on Tuesday at Sinatra’s Restaurant in Buffalo.

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The Florida governor has been aggressive in courting donors across the country this year as he’s hauled in eyepopping figures for his 2022 reelection.

Fox News’ Robert Sherman contributed to this report

Abbott vows to hire horseback border agents if Biden fires them, says president ‘in dereliction of duty’

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Sunday promised to hire the border agents on horseback accused of whipping Haitian migrants if they’re fired by President Biden – as he slammed the president and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for failing to secure the sovereignty of the United States.

“Secretary Mayorkas and, if I can be candid, even President Biden, they are in dereliction of duty,” Abbott said on “Fox News Sunday.”

“The Biden administration has abandoned any pretense of securing the sovereignty of either Texas or the United States by having these open border policies,” the governor said. “The people in south Texas, they are angry about the Biden administration for ignoring, for abandoning them. The Biden administration cares far more for the people who are not in this country than he does for the people, American citizens who live in this country.”

MAYORKAS SAYS AS MANY AS 12K OUT OF 17K HAITIAN MIGRANTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO U.S., AND ‘IT COULD BE HIGHER’

Abbott and his state have been on the front lines of the migrant crisis on the southern border, which returned to the headlines in recent days thousands of Haitian migrants crossed into Texas in recent weeks.

One of the more controversial stories from the border last week was based on images that showed agents on horseback blocking Haitian migrants from entering the U.S. Initial claims that agents were using “whips” were debunked by officials and agents, who noted the agents were using long reins to control the horse, and were twirling their reins to move the horse forward.

Even the photographer of the initial images said he did not see any whipping take place.

Nevertheless, Biden vowed that the agents, who were removed from field duty pending an investigation, will “pay.” Abbott was incensed by the president’s treatment of the agents.

“What the president said going after the border patrol who were risking their lives, working so hard to try to secure the border. If he takes any action against them whatsoever — I have worked side by side with those border patrol agents — I want them to know something,” Abbott said. “If they are at risk of losing their job at a president who is abandoning his duty to secure the border, you have a job in the state of Texas.”

BORDER PATROL STUNNED AS BIDEN GOES TO WAR WITH OWN AGENTS OVER FALSE ‘WHIPPING’ ALLEGATIONS

The governor added: “I will hire you to help Texas secure the border.”

Abbott has also been in the news in recent weeks because Texas passed a bill that bans abortions after six weeks. Pro-abortion groups took the state to court over the law and attempted to get the courts to halt enforcement of the law while litigation is pending. The Supreme Court allowed the law to go into effect, a move that prompted Democrats in the House of Representatives to pass a bill to codify abortion rights on a federal level this week.

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Abbott also signed a new election law in Texas this month that Democrats argue is meant to suppress votes. Republicans, meanwhile, say it will make the state’s elections more secure. That law is already the subject of several lawsuits.

Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.

Mayorkas says as many as 12K out of 17K migrants have been released into U.S., and ‘it could be higher’

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas admitted Sunday that the vast majority of Haitian migrants who crossed the southern U.S. border in recent weeks have already been released into the United States, and it is possible that more will follow them.

So far, approximately 12,400 of the people are having their cases heard by immigration judges, while another 5,000 are being processed by the Department of Homeland Security. Currently,, only 3,000 are in detention.

CRUZ BLAMES BIDEN FOR HAITIAN MIGRANT CRISIS, CITES ‘CANCELED’ DEPORTATION FLIGHTS

“Approximately, I think it’s about ten thousand or so, twelve thousand,” Mayorkas told “Fox News Sunday” when asked how many have already been released. He then acknowledged that this number could very well go up as the 5,000 other cases are processed.

“It could be even higher. The number that are returned could be even higher. What we do is we follow the law as Congress has passed it,” Mayorkas said.

The secretary said the administration “will make determinations whether they will be returned to Haiti based on our public health and public interest authorities.”

Mayorkas said that those who are released have conditions placed on them, “are monitored by us,” and authorities “ensure their appearance in court as the law requires.”

Host Chris Wallace noted that according to the Department of Justice 44% of those who are released miss court appearances. When asked whether many of the thousands who have just been released will just stay in the U.S., Mayorkas insisted that the system will work.

CONGRESSMEN HIGGINS, BIGGS TO PROBE ‘LEGAL MECHANISMS’ INVOLVED IN MIGRANT DISPERSAL

“We have enforcement guideline in place that provide the individuals who are recent border crossers who do not show up for their hearings are enforcement priorities and will be removed,” he said.

Wallace noted that there are already 11 million people in the U.S. illegally, but Mayorkas said this is just evidence that the current system is “broken” and in need of reform.

The Biden administration has confirmed that a total of roughly 30,000 Haitians crossed into Del Rio, Texas since September 9. Wallace asked why they were not stopped, and Maoyrkas replied with information about how the administration reacted after the fact.

“We surged our resources, we surged our personnel,” he said.

GABBARD: BIDEN ACTING AS ‘JUDGE, JURY AND EXECUTIONER’ OF BORDER AGENTS IS ‘ABSOLUTELY WRONG’

Wallace again asked why the people were not stopped at the border and why the U.S. does not have any physical barrier in place to prevent this.

“We do not agree with the building of the wall,” Mayorkas said. “The law provides that individuals can make a claim for humanitarian relief. That is actually one of our proudest traditions”

Mayorkas also faced questions about the narrative that border patrol agents were using whips against migrants, after a photograph of an agent holding the reigns of his horse while chasing someone near the border looked like he was holding a whip.

Mayorkas had said that the images “painfully conjured up the worst elements of our nation’s ongoing battle against systemic racism,” only for the photographer to clarify that he has “never seen them whip anyone.”

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Despite that information and a denial from the head of the National Border Patrol Council, President Biden also continued the narrative that agents were whipping people, saying, “those people will pay.”

On Sunday, Mayorkas addressed the issue, simply stating that what actually happened “is the subject of an investigation” which “will be determined by the facts and nothing more.”

Fox News’ Adam Shaw and Peter Hasson contributed to this report.

Wisconsin man accused of election fraud after voting while on probation for felony: report

A Wisconsin man on probation following his sixth felony impaired-driving conviction voted illegally in last November’s election, according to reports.

Donald Holz, 63, has been charged with committing election fraud, FOX 6 of Milwaukee reported.

“I am a qualified voter,” Holz had contended on his 2020 voter application, even though he had signed a voter ineligibility acknowledgment form following his sentencing in 2019, according to the station.

LA OFFICIALS ADDRESS MAIL-IN BALLOT CONCERNS AFTER SOME DECRY HOLES FOUND IN ENVELOPES

The 2019 form had spelled out that Holz would not be eligible to vote again until after he had completed his probation sentencing, FOX 6 reported.

Donald Holz, 63, has been charged with committing election fraud, authorities say. (Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office)

Holz is due to appear in court Oct. 12 on the election fraud charge. If convicted, he could face more than three years in prison and/or a fine up to $10,000.

The suspect was the fourth in Wisconsin charged with election fraud in connection with last November’s voting, FOX 11 of Green Bay, Wisconsin reported.

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Eric Toney, district attorney for Fond du Lac County, released the following statement on the matter:

“This prosecution is not suggestive that the election was stolen but elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and the integrity of our electoral process must be protected at every turn. We will continue to prosecute any circumstances of voter fraud, as allowed by law, in order to safeguard our electoral process and ensure the public has confidence in our elections. The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.”

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio booed at Global Citizens Live concert

Mayor Bill de Blasio was booed by an otherwise euphoric crowd at Saturday’s star-studded Global Citizens Live concert, marking the second time in recent weeks he was heckled at a major Central Park performance.

De Blasio heard widespread jeers as he took the mic to tout New York City’s climate change initiatives in between sets from the likes of Coldplay, J-Lo and Lizzo, and appearances by Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and other dignitaries.

BLACK LIVES MATTER LEADER CALLS BILL DE BLASIO’S VACCINE MANDATE ‘MODERN DAY FREEDOM PAPERS’

The lame duck Democrat was bombarded with Bronx cheers at The Homecoming Concert in Central Park last month, which was meant to signal the return of city life amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some 60,000 fans were forced to flee to the exits as the show was abruptly cut short by severe weather threatening the Manhattan park.

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Hizzoner has a history of receiving icy receptions from not only city employees, but crowds filled with political allies.

Boobirds even showed up to grill the mayor at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest this Independence Day.

Trump brings soldier who pulled baby over Kabul wall onto stage at rally prompting ‘USA!’ chants

Former President Donald Trump praised a U.S. service member who was photographed pulling an Afghan baby across the Kabul airport wall during the Afghanistan withdrawal and brought him onstage at his Saturday rally.

“We’re also honored to be joined by one of the marines who bravely served in Kabul during the withdrawal and helped evacuate children over the airport and over the airport wall,” Trump told a crowd of thousands gathered in Perry, Georgia. “You saw him, he did a great job, Lance Corporal Hunter Ian Clark. Lance Corporal get up here!”

ASSAULT ON FEMALE US SERVICE MEMBER BY MALE AFGHAN REFUGEES AT FORT BLISS UNDER FBI INVESTIGATION

Lance Corporal Clark walked up to the stage accompanied by cheers and the president referred to him as he approached as a “handsome guy.”

“Hey, my name is Lance Corporal Hunter Clark and I’m here from Warner Robbins, Georgia,” Clark told the crowd. “I am the guy that pulled the baby over the wall and it’s definitely probably one of the greatest things I’ve done in my entire life.”

In this image from video provided by Omar Haidari and taken on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 which shows a baby being lifted across a wall at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan by US soldiers. The image grabbed from footage, taken on Thursday, showed the infant being pushed up to the soldiers by people in the crowd gathered outside the airport, amid the chaos of those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country. (Omar Haidari via AP)

Clark appeared to be choked up and added, “I just want to thank all the support from all y’all it really means a lot and I’m glad to be home now.”

THE BIDEN EFFECT: GOP STARTS LINKING DOWN-BALLOT DEMOCRATS TO AN INCREASINGLY UNPOPULAR PRESIDENT

Clark then shook the former president’s hand and walked off the stage to chants of “USA! USA! USA!” from the crowd.

During his speech, Trump repeatedly slammed President Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal calling it the “most appalling display of incompetence.”

In the front row, Trump left 13 empty seats with roses placed on top of them to pay tribute to the 13 U.S. service members who lost their lives during an ISIS-K suicide attack as the military was attempting to evacuate.

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Trump addressed the open seats during his speech.

“In their memory tonight we have 13 empty seats of honor right here in the front row,” Trump told the cheering crowd. “Our hearts go out to the families of every service member that we have lost and I’ve spoken to a lot of them. These are great, great people.”

‘Reform California’ chairman slams bill to allow illegal immigrants to serve on county central committee

“Reform California” chairman Carl DeMaio on Saturday criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signing of a bill that allows some illegal immigrants to serve on county central committees — one of a number of bills signed to benefit those who entered the country illegally.

“These bills are not just symbolic wokeness, this is a fundamental redefinition of who gets to be elected to office in California, and they’re starting small but this is absolutely the first step,” DeMaio told Fox News.

NEWSOM SIGNS BILL REPLACING ‘ALIEN’ IN CALIFORNIA LEGAL CODE

The bill, was one of a number of bills that Newsom’s office described as “expanding the state’s humane immigration policies by protections and support for immigrants” and included a law ending the use of “alien” to describe non-citizens.

Included was a bill that amends California election code to allow what Newsom’s office described as “aspiring citizens” to be appointed and elected members in a county central committee. Proponents have specifically mentioned “DREAMers” or recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) — which protected illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children from deportation.

The bill says it will “permit a person who is not a United States citizen, but who would be eligible to register to vote if the person were a United States citizen, to serve as a member of the committee.”

Those committees are governing bodies of county parties and involves budgetary matters and other business at county level for those parties.

SCHOOL BACKTRACKS AFTER DENYING STUDENTS FROM PAINTING AMERICAN FLAG: ‘I LOVE MY COUNTRY’

“This is a election that’s on the official ballot that every voter receives, so illegal immigrants’ names will be printed on ballots with all the other offices, all the way from president to school board,” DeMaio said.

He claimed it was part of a bigger push to get illegal immigrants on ballots, and said that in other parts of the state there had been successful pushes to get them on to elections for school boards.

“Clearly this is a pattern and this is not going to stop with this bill Newsom signed,” he said.

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“They want to normalize the practice of illegal immigration and that’s what they’re doing by changing words — words have meaning.”

The governor also signed legislation identifying attacks on migrants due to their immigration status as hate crimes and affirming protections for unaccompanied migrant children.

Fox News’ Thomas Barrabi contributed to this report.

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