How Democrats Could Woo Elon Musk Back: Fired Trump Aide
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.
Democrats could persuade Elon Musk to support their cause by persuading him that most of his customers are Democrats, Anthony Scaramucci has suggested.
Speaking on his podcast The Rest is Politics US, Scaramucci, who was fired by Donald Trump just 10 days into the job as his White House communications director in 2017, said it was important to "woo" Musk back after a "cooling off period."
He added that Democrats could move to the centre and forgo more left-wing policies to "bring Elon Musk back into the fold as a prodigal son."
However, he said it was unlikely Democrats would do so.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
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Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Iran Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize As He Threatens Neighboring Iran
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. Pakistan has announced its nomination of President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting him with averting a major conflict in South Asia at a time when the U.S. leader is contemplating intervention in the Middle East. "The Government of Pakistan has decided to formally recommend President Donald J. Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis," the Pakistani government's official X, formerly Twitter, account wrote in a post Friday. The nomination comes just two days after Trump met with Pakistani Army Chief of Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir at the White House. In addition to the four-day conflict between India and Pakistan, sparked by a deadly Islamist militant attack in India-administered Kashmir, one of the items discussed by the two men on Wednesday was the deepening conflict between Israel and Iran. The two longtime foes have traded direct strikes against one another since Israel launched a massive series of attacks against Iran last week, alleging that Tehran was secretly moving toward producing a nuclear weapon, a claim denied by Iranian officials. Pakistan, which neighbors Iran, has repeatedly condemned Israel over its operations. Yet Trump, whose administration had entered into talks with Iran aimed at reaching an agreement on the country's nuclear program, has backed the Israeli offensive and has openly contemplated joining the Israeli campaign through strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. A statement released Thursday by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, a day after Trump's meeting with Munir, indicated that Trump was still holding out for a potential diplomatic breakthrough. "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks," Trump said, according to Leavitt. Reached for comment by Newsweek, the Pakistani Mission to the United Nations expressed hope that Trump would once again oversee a peaceful resolution. "As stated by us in the Security Council, Pakistan favours a peaceful resolution to the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy," the Pakistani Mission said. "We hope that the situation will not escalate militarily, and tensions will be diffused amicably through diplomatic engagement." "President Trump has distinguished himself as a peacemaker," the Mission added. "His statesmanship and successful diplomatic intervention with Pakistan and India played a crucial role in bringing about a ceasefire between the two countries in May 2025." The Mission stated, "we remain hopeful that his earnest efforts will continue to contribute towards regional and global stability, particularly in the context of ongoing crises in the Middle East, including the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza and the deteriorating escalation involving Iran." Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment via email Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press upon arrival at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, on June 20, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press upon arrival at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, on June 20, 2025. MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images Ties Between Two Islamic Republics Iran and Pakistan have a complex relationship, marked by both a long history of cooperation as well as tensions on key issues. Pakistan is suspected to have played a role in aiding Iran's nuclear efforts, dating back at least to the 1990s via nuclear physicist Abdul Qadeer Khan, considered to be the chief architect of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. Khan, who died in October 2021, drew controversy in 2004 after he admitted to transferring nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya, though he claimed he did so without the knowledge of the Pakistani government. While Iranian officials have never officially acknowledged receiving components related to their country's nuclear program from Khan specifically, reports issued by the CIA, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other agencies have drawn connections between the two nation's nuclear prowess. Islamabad and Tehran also have established mechanisms of security cooperation, especially aimed at battling an array of militant groups, including Baloch separatist groups, that operate on both sides of their shared border. Yet mutual distrust has at times prevailed, with both sides occasionally accusing one another of failing to uphold their side of security commitments. This tension boiled over in January 2024 when Iran, having suffered the worst militant attack in its history perpetrated by the Islamic State militant group (ISIS), conducted surprise missile strikes against alleged positions tied to Baloch Islamist militant group Jaish ul-Adl in Pakistan's Balochistan province, as well as separate strikes against insurgents in Syria and an alleged Israeli spy base in northern Iraq. Pakistan reacted with fury to the strikes and conducted retaliatory air and artillery strikes against positions tied to the Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Liberation Front separatist groups in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province. Officials from both sides quickly agreed to de-escalate after the clash. Pakistani students walk across the Pakistan-Iran border after returning from Iran in Taftan, in Balochistan province, on June 19, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Pakistani students walk across the Pakistan-Iran border after returning from Iran in Taftan, in Balochistan province, on June 19, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. BANARAS KHAN/AFP/Getty Images Pakistan-Israel Tensions Intensify The Iran-Pakistan flare-up occurred as Tehran became increasingly embroiled in a separate conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement. After Hamas conducted a surprise attack against Israel in October 2023, the group was backed in the ensuing war with Israel by Iran and its Axis of Resistance coalition of non-state actors in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. The Axis of Resistance also counts allies from Pakistan, namely the Zainebiyoun Brigade, which consists of Shiite Muslim fighters predominantly involved in the fight against ISIS in Syria. Pakistan, the world's only Muslim nuclear weapons power, has repeatedly condemned Israel, with which Islamabad has never established diplomatic ties, over its campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. Israel is also widely believed to have nuclear weapons. Pakistani calls for de-escalation have ramped up since Israel's direct attacks on Iran. On Tuesday, Pakistan joined 19 other Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, in voicing a "categorial rejection" of Israel's aerial offensive against Iran and calling for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons. The Israeli strikes have largely targeted sites and personnel tied to Iran's armed forces and nuclear facilities, though activists report a mounting civilian death toll. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim to have largely destroyed Iran's air defense network and to have made strides in depleting the country's missile capabilities, even as Iranian strikes continue to hit Israel. As of Thursday, however, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that Iran has not "asked us for any kind of military assistance so far." "Pakistan's position on Iran is clear and transparent," Khan told reporters. "We provide full moral support to Iran; we strongly condemn the aggression against Iran." A Shiite Muslim girl carrying placards shouts anti-Israel slogans during a protest rally in Lahore, Pakistan, on June 20, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. A Shiite Muslim girl carrying placards shouts anti-Israel slogans during a protest rally in Lahore, Pakistan, on June 20, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. ARIF ALI/AFP/Getty Images Trump's India-Pakistan Stance Pakistan's nomination of Trump serves as further evidence of potential warming of ties between Islamabad and Washington under the current administration, and at a potentially critical moment. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in receiving a Nobel Peace Prize over the years, including in relation to his first administration's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with North Korea and his role in overseeing the 2020 Abraham Accords through which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco normalized ties with Israel. When Trump delivered the first address of his second administration to a joint session of Congress in March, he credited Pakistan with helping the U.S. capture the suspected mastermind of a deadly attack conducted by ISIS against U.S. troops and Afghan civilians amid the U.S. withdrawal of Afghanistan in August 2021. Trump is also known for seeking a stronger relationship with India, having empowered the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue coalition between the countries as well as Australia and Japan during his first administration. Trump has met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi three times throughout his two terms, most recently in February. Vice President JD Vance also happened to be visiting India when Islamist militants killed 27 people in the town of Pahalgam, setting off the most serious India-Pakistan crisis in years. Amid the tensions, however, Trump appeared to leverage his ties with both sides in order to intervene diplomatically. The extent of his role remains disputed by Modi, who told Trump that India was not interested in third-party mediation over the Kashmir dispute during their call Tuesday, according to Indian External Affairs Minister Vikram Misri. Modi told reporters Friday that he "politely declined" an offer from Trump to meet at the White House this past week, citing a preexisting commitment. Speaking Friday in New Jersey, Trump spoke optimistically about the potential to strike trade deals with India and Pakistan and hailed his efforts to promote peace between the rivals and mediate on other conflicts, including between Iran and Israel. "As you know, we did a very great job with India and Pakistan," Trump said. "And we had India in, it looks like we're going to be making a trade deal with India, and we had Pakistan in, it looks like we're going to be making a trade deal with Pakistan. And this beautiful thing to watch." "Serbia Kosovo, likewise, they've been fighting for years, and as you know, we brought that one to a conclusion," he added. "And now we have a couple of big ones, we have Russia-Ukraine, we're making a little bit of progress, and we have Israel. And nobody really knows what that one is all about. We're going to find out pretty soon, I guess."
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
LA Mayor Rips JD Vance for Calling Senator Padilla 'Jose': 'How Dare You'
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. Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass ripped Vice President JD Vance on Friday after he referred to Democratic U.S. Senator Alex Padilla as "Jose." Newsweek reached out to the office of Bass for additional comment Friday night. Why It Matters Republican President Donald Trump has prioritized immigration control as a key pillar of his second administration. The president campaigned in 2024 on the promise of mass deportations and appointed Tom Homan as his administration's border czar to execute his agenda. Protests broke out this month in Los Angeles in reaction to numerous U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the area. Trump sent National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles amid the strife, against the wishes of California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. The move was ultimately reversed by a judge, restoring Newsom's control over the state's Guard forces. What To Know Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), scheduled a news conference in Los Angeles last week regarding the ongoing protests, and Padilla, a California Democrat, was in attendance. Video footage from the incident showed Padilla pushed to the ground and handcuffed outside the door while attempting to speak to Noem during the conference. Noem stopped speaking for a brief moment during the commotion, then immediately continued. The DHS said she met with Padilla for 15 minutes after the gathering. Vance on Friday landed in Los Angeles amid the Trump administration's ramped up ICE raids in the city. While speaking to reporters, he was asked a question in reference to Padilla's forced removal from Noem's briefing. "The New York Times just did a story" about lawmakers who "keep getting handcuffed, suggesting that ... the Trump administration is cracking down on Democrats," a reporter said. "Can you comment on that?" "Well, I was hoping Jose Padilla would be here to ask a question, but unfortunately, I guess he decided not to show up because there wasn't the theater," the vice president said. "And that's all it is. I think everybody realizes that's what this is." Bass afterward called out Vance, saying, "Mr. Vice President, how dare you disrespect our senator. You don't know his name," Bass questioned. "But yet you served with him before you were vice president and you continue to serve with him today, because the last time I checked, the vice president of the United States is the president of the U.S. Senate." Bass continued, "You serve with him today and how dare you disrespect him and call him 'Jose.' But I guess he just looked like anybody to you. Well, he's not just anybody to us. He is our senator." When asked about the incident, a Vance spokesperson previously told Newsweek that "He must have mixed up two people who have broken the law." Bass has been a stanch critic of the Trump administration amid the ICE raids throughout the City of Angels and vowed to stand in solidarity with immigrant communities in her city. The mayor has also called for peaceful protests and condemned any violence in reaction to immigration initiatives set in motion by the White House. She also set a curfew for a portion of downtown Los Angeles amid the ongoing unrest. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks at a candlelight vigil on June 10 in Los Angeles. (Photo by) Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks at a candlelight vigil on June 10 in Los Angeles. (Photo by) What People Are Saying Newsom on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday: "JD Vance served with Alex Padilla in the United States Senate. Calling him 'Jose Padilla' is not an accident." Padilla posted to X on Friday: "I asked a question—and ended up in handcuffs. If this is how the Trump administration treats a U.S. Senator in broad daylight, imagine what they're doing to immigrants behind closed doors. We cannot stay silent. We will not back down." California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff wrote on X Friday: "JD Vance served alongside Alex Padilla, and knows better. He's taking this cheap shot to distract from the real fear and havoc this Administration is creating. It's pathetic." What Happens Next It is believed that the Trump administration will continue executing his campaign promise of mass deportations throughout the country.
an hour ago
Vance blames California Dems for violent immigration protests and calls Sen. Alex Padilla 'Jose'
LOS ANGELES -- Vice President JD Vance on Friday accused California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of encouraging violent immigration protests as he used his appearance in Los Angeles to rebut criticism from state and local officials that the Trump administration fueled the unrest by sending in federal officers. Vance also referred to U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, the state's first Latino senator, as 'Jose Padilla,' a week after the Democrat was forcibly taken to the ground by officers and handcuffed after speaking out during a Los Angeles news conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on immigration raids. 'I was hoping Jose Padilla would be here to ask a question,' Vance said, in an apparent reference to the altercation at Noem's event. 'I guess he decided not to show up because there wasn't a theater. And that's all it is.' 'They want to be able to go back to their far-left groups and to say, 'Look, me, I stood up against border enforcement. I stood up against Donald Trump,'' Vance added. A spokesperson for Padilla, Tess Oswald, noted in a social media post that Padilla and Vance were formerly colleagues in the Senate and said that Vance should know better. 'He should be more focused on demilitarizing our city than taking cheap shots,' Oswald said. Vance's visit to Los Angeles to tour a multiagency Federal Joint Operations Center and a mobile command center came as demonstrations calmed down in the city and a curfew was lifted this week. That followed over a week of sometimes-violent clashes between protesters and police and outbreaks of vandalism and looting that followed immigration raids across Southern California. Trump's dispatching of his top emissary to Los Angeles at a time of turmoil surrounding the Israel-Iran war and the U.S.'s future role in it signals the political importance Trump places on his hard-line immigration policies. Vance echoed the president's harsh rhetoric toward California Democrats as he sought to blame them for the protests in the city. 'Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass, by treating the city as a sanctuary city, have basically said that this is open season on federal law enforcement,' Vance said after he toured federal immigration enforcement offices. 'What happened here was a tragedy,' Vance added. 'You had people who were doing the simple job of enforcing the law and they had rioters egged on by the governor and the mayor, making it harder for them to do their job. That is disgraceful. And it is why the president has responded so forcefully.' Newsom's spokesperson Izzy Gardon said in a statement, 'The Vice President's claim is categorically false. The governor has consistently condemned violence and has made his stance clear.' Speaking at City Hall, Bass said Vance was 'spewing lies and utter nonsense.' She said hundreds of millions of dollars were wasted by the federal government on a 'stunt.' 'How dare you say that city officials encourage violence? We kept the peace,' Bass said. In a statement on X, Newsom responded to Vance's reference to 'Jose Padilla,' saying the comment was no accident. Jose Padilla also is the name of a convicted al-Qaida terrorism plotter during President George W. Bush's administration, who was sentenced to two decades in prison. Padilla was arrested in 2002 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport during the tense months after the 9/11 attacks and accused of the 'dirty bomb' mission. It later emerged through U.S. interrogation of other al-Qaida suspects that the 'mission' was only a sketchy idea, and those claims never surfaced in the South Florida terrorism case. Responding to the outrage, Taylor Van Kirk, a spokesperson for Vance, said of the vice president: 'He must have mixed up two people who have broken the law.' Federal immigration authorities have been ramping up arrests across the country to fulfill Trump's promise of mass deportations. Todd Lyons, the head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has defended his tactics against criticism that authorities are being too heavy-handed. The friction in Los Angeles began June 6, when federal agents conducted a series of immigration sweeps in the region that have continued since. Amid the protests and over the objections of state and local officials, Trump ordered the deployment of roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the second-largest U.S. city, home to 3.8 million people. Trump has said that without the military's involvement, Los Angeles 'would be a crime scene like we haven't seen in years.' Newsom has depicted the military intervention as the onset of a much broader effort by Trump to overturn political and cultural norms at the heart of the nation's democracy. Earlier Friday, Newsom urged Vance to visit victims of the deadly January wildfires while in Southern California and talk with Trump, who earlier this week suggested his feud with the governor might influence his consideration of $40 billion in federal wildfire aid for California. 'I hope we get that back on track,' Newsom wrote on X. 'We are counting on you, Mr. Vice President.'
