Trump's Team Threatening GOP Senators With Elon Musk-Funded Primaries If They Vote Against Cabinet Picks, Reports ABC

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: MEDIAite

Nov 21st, 2024, 6:05 pm


ABC News’s Senior White House Correspondent Selina Wang reported on Thursday that President-elect Donald Trump’s team has been threatening Republican Senators with Elon Musk-funded primaries if they vote against his cabinet nominees.

“Well, Trump has been working the phones. He’s been upping the pressure on Senate Republicans, even calling some of them directly. This is as JD Vance is also making the pitch. It was up on Capitol Hill with Matt Gaetz yesterday meeting with some of those Senate Republicans,” Wang began, adding:

And we are told by a Trump official that those meetings were productive. But we’re also told that behind the scenes, the Trump team has been playing hardball and they’ve been giving an ominous warning to any Senate Republicans who might oppose his nominees.

One Trump adviser telling our Jon Karl that the message is, quote, ‘If you are on the wrong side of the vote, you’re buying yourself a primary. That is all. And there’s a guy named Elon Musk who is going to finance it.’ The Trump adviser added, ‘The president gets to decide his cabinet. No one else.’

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trumps-team-threatening-gop-senators-with-elon-musk-funded-primaries-if-they-vote-against-cabinet-picks-reports-abc/

[Walleye]

1. The art of mafioso deal

[jayschool2013]

22. Yep, and it's SOP in the New American Reich

I did Nazi that coming.

[NotHardly]

46. We'll see where the elephant shits pretty plainly as Trumps threats manifest

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Anyone, incl SCotUS, who thought money wouldn't corrupt politics since Citizens United decision is stupid

... or corrupt.

[Irish_Dem]

31. They knew it was about making corruption and bribes legal.

[TBF]

43. Yes. John Roberts is corrupt as hell, but not stupid. nt

[NotHardly]

47. It's BOTH

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Curious. How successful in the past has Trump been in disengaging

"renegade" Republicans with primaries?

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

5. EXACTLY!!! I've heard he's DESPISED by the republicans, the somewhat sane ones anyway, just like his "wife", melanoma.

Alot of things we're going through is because of his blackmail. I'd ask him to try me because I'm the WRONG one to threaten. I would spill everything during a press conference, with evidence of what he has done and with whom.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. And I'm also curious about

whether voters would choose a Trump candidate for Senator over an incumbent, e.g., Mitch McConnell.

Would they blindly vote for a Senator (more powerful as s/he would represent their state, not their district) solely because Trump told them to?

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

9. You and me both...EOM

[Ursus Rex]

33. I definitely believe they would vote for the Trump candidate.

"Incumbents are the problem" would be the party mantra.

[thebigidea]

10. Nah. You don't need to blackmail shameless scum who are desperate for power

You just offer them a piece of it. They always were authoritarians who followed the leader anyway. Donald Trump simply isn't a master of blackmail. He's just not.

[rubbersole]

17. Liz Cheney has a thing to add...

[jimfields33]

28. I think Liz Cheney could offer an answer.

He also got rid of other GOP House members who voted to impeach him.

[PortTack]

39. Good point. His endorsement to win ratio is abysmally low!

[thesquanderer]

65. But his endorsement backed up with Musk's money could be another matter.

It's hard to combat an opponent with unlimited funds.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Autocracy 2024: "The president gets to decide his cabinet. No one else."

The cabinet is the servant of the people. Period.

Further, they are representatives of the United States of America in the world as Secretary of State, trade negotiators, and deal makers. There are many international issues of cooperation and contention that are cabinet level.

The red light warning here is that the message goes beyond mere assertion but moves to strong arm enforcement in pure fascist style (business and political leadership arm in arm, at least selectively).

[muriel_volestrangler]

56. Well, the president and his billionaire backers

Musk is an essential cog in this machine. Trump needs to keep him sweet with government contracts and made-up positions of power. Why worry that the constitution stops you from running for president when you can just buy a president instead?

[keithbvadu2]

7. We have seen articles about musk inserting himself into Trump's inner circle and outside Republicans worrying about it.

We have seen articles about musk inserting himself into Trump's inner circle and inner/outside Republicans worrying about it. Musk's money is so powerful that they are using it as a weapon against their own people. Money is buying Trump. He did not like crypto very much until they started donating. He did not like electric vehicles until Elon start using his money for Trump. Putting money into Trump was the best investment Putin ever made.

[ribrepin]

8. Trump seems to be spending Elon's money pretty freely.

Rule of thumb Elon - Every thing Trump touches dies!

[patricia92243]

11. You got it! And by that time Trump and Musk will have long since broken up.

[Deminpenn]

13. True, but maybe Elon hasn't noticed X is already on its way out yet

nt

[PortTack]

40. Along with tesla taking a big hit. He laid off 6k ppl from his car factories this wk. car lots are overrun with EVs

Funny how that works…crash the economy and no one has money to buy your shitty cars!

[Deminpenn]

52. There's a Tesla truck owner

in my area. I see it on the road now and then. It looks completely impractical for carrying cargo. The body design appears to be copied from the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Body looks like it's built with scraps from a steel rolling mill.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

68. I saw one today

with some serious rust. It looks like a cross between a Delorean and a Pontiac Aztec

[rubbersole]

18. Elon's net worth went up $16 billion in one day after the election.

This is couch cushion money to him. Is it safe to say "couch cushion" again. Wouldn't want to start a 'drug fueled' orgy or anything.

[Lithos]

30. All phony money

He can't spend it as it would mean abandoning his position in Tesla, SpaceX and other companies. The real money he gets is his ability to leverage and pay back the interest.

L-

[moose65]

12. Meh...

What about Senators who were just re-elected and are safe for the next 6 years? By the time their next election comes around, this will be ancient history and Trump will be out of office or dead or in jail.

[Deminpenn]

14. Trump's a lame duck

and his ideas never work for other candidates who run on them.

[jmowreader]

15. Oh great

Now HR 1 in this new Congress is going to be Articles of Impeachment for Trump, HR 2 for Vance, and HR 3 revocation of citizenship and deportation for Musk.

[AverageOldGuy]

16. Asking Republican Senators to stand up to Trump . . .

. . . is asking them to act courageously and to do the right thing. Is there anywhere in history an example of a Republican Senator acting with courage and doing the right thing?

Yes.

But John McCain is dead.

[LymphocyteLover]

19. I hear you, but at least 5 Senators were a hard no on Gaetz. So maybe they are getting sick of Trump's BS?

We can only hope

[LymphocyteLover]

20. Thugocracy. I doubt this is winning any fans for the incoming POTUS though

[axnoy304]

21. It is the best options

ABC News’s Senior White House Correspondent Selina Wang reported on Thursday that President-elect Donald Trump’s team has been threatening Republican Senators with Elon Musk-funded primaries if they vote against his cabinet nominees.

“Well, Trump has been working the phones. He’s been upping the pressure on Senate Republicans, even calling some of them directly. This is as JD Vance is also making the pitch. It was up on Capitol Hill with Matt Gaetz yesterday meeting with some of those Senate Republicans,” Wang began, adding:

[mercuryblues]

64. Well it looks like the musk oil salesman

has found someone who will bleed him dry.

It might take some time, but trump can do it.

[mdbl]

23. and the fascism marches on

the entire Repuglican party has become a quid pro quo

[Mr. Sparkle]

24. The Gop's favorite past time, threatening people

Last edited Fri Nov 22, 2024, 09:05 AM - Edit history (1)

They really are a bunch of thugs

[Orrex]

25. Years ago I was attacked on this very platform for criticizing Citizens United

Mocked for my ignorance of the Constitution and my hatred of freedom of expression.


And now openly corrupt billionaires are openly buying the government with the clear intent of shattering the nation on behalf of a hostile foreign power.

[Avalon Sparks]

42. Really?

Early DU, (early 2000’s) I’d say 99% of DUers were appalled by and fully against Citizens United when it was before the SC.

the ramifications of that decision have happened so quickly

[Orrex]

45. Oh yes. Not many, but they were vocal. Definitely since 2010

In the wake of each week’s mass shooting, these same people would bravely advocate on behalf of guns, too.

Don’t know if they’re gone or if I have them on Ignore.

[JoseBalow]

57. They're not gone

[mopinko]

26. i hope there's at least a couple of them who werent planning to run again who r sick of this shit.

lookin at u mitch. lindsay?
remember how sinemanchin got all that attention for being the hold outs. that cd b any 1 of u.
murkowski is making noise like she might go indy. man, wd she b carrying a big stick.

[Hope22]

27. 100% mobster president...

…if he doesn’t want to be called that he should stop with the threats. This is not going to go well for anyone.

[sop]

29. "The president gets to decide his cabinet. No one else."

I guess he forgot about the part about advice and consent in Article II Section 2 of the US Constitution: "He shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate."

[TBF]

44. Trump doesn't read - he just pushes folks around.

This is likely the reason we haven't seen much of JV at all, though. He's young and biding his time.

[Baitball Blogger]

32. He's assuming that Elon Musk won't be thoroughly disgusted with politics at the end of four years.

[Javaman]

34. given the orange assholes nothing but pain and cruelty policy, I would tell him to piss up a rope.

come the midterms, I have a feeling he's going to get his clock cleaned, if there is not cheating of course.

[Septua]

35. "If you're on the wrong side of the vote...

..you’re buying yourself a primary. That is all. And there’s a guy named Elon Musk who is going to finance it.’ The Trump adviser added, ‘The president gets to decide his cabinet. No one else."

Well, will the Senators choose Party or Country? And, are they considering the possibility the Democratic opponent might take them out if they choose poorly? Trump's got to do a lot of promise-keeping over the next two years: fix the border, fix the high prices, fix the crime (?), restore (?) middle class living standards.

I don't think he got the votes because of his retribution agenda and that agenda won't fix the border or high prices.

The fact that the Senate hasn't caved to what they know is Trump's true agenda, gives me a slight glimmer of hope they may have finally decided Trump truly is the existential threat that needs to be stopped.

[orangecrush]

36. Twitter was a dry run

He has purchased the United States government.

[Gore1FL]

37. The only know one way.

Pretty soon, they won't be invited to Thanksgiving with their fellow fascists, either.

[Efilroft Sul]

38. It's be a scream if a GOP senator publicly said, "Get real. You told us there aren't going to be elections anymore."

[orleans]

41. political blackmail nt

[Old Crank]

48. Put aside your sworn duty

and tongue bathe the orange man's junk.

[republianmushroom]

49. Republicans will tote the republican leaders line, flat period, no other way.

There will be no exceptions. You may disagree with the party leaders but you will not voice it.
If you do voice it, you will no longer be a republican party member.

[tonekat]

50. That really isn't a government that is...

...of, for, or by anyone but certain people, now, is it?

[kimbutgar]

51. A lot can happen in two years and his second term is going to be a disaster

I hope some sane (if they exist ) senators get a spine and push back.

And I think between now and in two muskrat and the orange maggot will be enemies. The egos are just too big on those two. I predict an implosion.

[bluestarone]

53. Maybe start secret ballot votes?

[Grins]

54. Only one Party does this.

I have a list titled, “Only one Party…”
Primarying one of their own is uniquely Conservative Republican. This will be added.

(There must have been a case where a D primaried another D but I can’t think of one. Anyone…?)

[generalbetrayus]

60. Sorry, but two Democrats in the House of Representatives were primaried in 2024.

Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri lost their primaries this year to more pro-Israel Democrats.

https://abcnews.go.com/538/pro-israel-groups-spent-big-oust-squad-members/story?id=113675889

[ShazzieB]

55. "The president gets to decide his cabinet. No one else." - Trump staffer

The U.S. Constitution would beg to differ, jackhole.

ARTICLE 2, SECTION 2

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

Of course, we know TSF and his team of corrupt and incompetent clowns don't give a flying fig what the Constitution says. Too bad for them.

[Babajida]

61. Well he keeps getting away with doing whatever he wants

So it's easy to see why they'd think that.

[totodeinhere]

58. I would love to see them primaried.

That will make it easier for a Democrat to defeat them and take their seat. We desperately need to take the Senate back in 2026.

[Babajida]

59. Elon Musk needs to be hobbled

And citizens united needs to be overturned. Aside from climate action there might not be a more important issue.

[Figarosmom]

62. Most of them up in 2 years will likely lose to Dems anyway if trump does the things he says hes going to.

The things in project 2025 he's planning on aren't popular with repubs either. So I wonder if the primary challenge is much of a threat? Dems will beat magas.

[young_at_heart]

63. He's got "threatening" down to a science

He can do it in his sleep!

[thesquanderer]

66. Maybe a couple of conscientious GOP Senators could look into switching teams. (n/t)

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

67. If apartheid nepo baby wants to throw his money down the shitter

Let him

[LudwigPastorius]

69. ...and what have they been threatened with that didn't make the story?

Something involving their family members, perhaps?