New York — No longer limited to partisans and activists, the backlash against Donald Trump’s anti-immigration campaign It began to spread across American culture, encompassing the worlds of business, sports, and entertainment.
Bruce Springsteen has released a new song Wednesday who criticized Trump’s “federal thugs.” CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman “What’s going on with ICE goes too far,” he told employees, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. And a lifestyle icon Martha Stewart He lamented that “we could be attacked and even killed.”
“Things can and must change quickly and peacefully,” Stewart wrote to her 2.9 million Instagram followers this week.
Just over a year into his second term, Trump is facing a broad cultural revolution that threatens to undermine his signature domestic priority. The Republican Party’s grip on power And his political strength before the midterm elections.
Trump, a former reality TV star who often adjusts to changes in public opinion, tried to shift the conversation this week by sending border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota. He replaces Greg Bovinothe commander of the border guard who was a lightning rod.
But it is not clear whether this step will take place It will change anything on Earth.
Thousands of federal agents remain in Minnesota, where two US citizens were killed and local communities feel beleaguered by Trump’s crackdown. At the same time, operations in Maine also expanded.
Republican strategist Doug Hay said it was too early to know whether Trump’s attempt to control the fallout would succeed. He has been in touch with Republican leaders across Washington in recent days who are concerned that the escalating situation could jeopardize control of Congress in the midterm elections this fall.
“It’s very clear that the administration is appalled,” Hay said.
While some in the party may be concerned, Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base remains largely united behind him and the crackdown on immigration he repeatedly promised during his campaign. They are pushing the president not to back down.
“It is time for President Trump to ramp up mass deportations even further,” Laura Loomer, a Trump loyalist who has the president’s ear, told The Associated Press. “If Minnesota is any measure, it is time to focus on deporting as many Muslims as possible.”
This advice runs counter to a growing group of prominent voices in American culture.
Joe RoganA leading podcast host who endorsed Trump during his comeback campaign said he sympathized with concerns about immigration agents’ tactics.
“Are we really going to become the Gestapo?” Rogan said. “Where are your papers?” Is this what we’ve come to?
Over the weekend, more than 60 corporate executives, including the leaders of Target, Best Buy and UnitedHealth, issued a public letter calling for a de-escalation after… Alex Pretty diesa 37-year-old Veterans Affairs nurse, was shot and killed during a standoff with federal agents.
The outcry intensified as the week progressed.
CEO of Apple Tim Cook On Tuesday, he issued a memo to staff saying he was “heartbroken by the events that occurred in Minneapolis.”
“I believe America is stronger when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they come from, and when we embrace our common humanity,” Cook wrote in the memo, first reported by Bloomberg News.
Billionaire tech and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla used stronger language on social media to condemn “ICE guards who run badly.”
Jason Calacanis, a prominent technology host, warned on Wednesday of dire consequences for Trump if he does not make sweeping changes among the people running the immigration crackdown.
“President Trump needs to replace them all and reverse his low rates, or the entire Trump 2.0 agenda will die,” Calacanis wrote to his 1 million followers. He added: “America must put this dark and disgusting chapter behind us and unite behind a more fragile immigration policy.”
More anger came from the entertainment industry, often seen as a liberal bastion.
Springsteen released his new single, “Streets of Minneapolis,” on Wednesday. The famous musician directly referred to Preity’s death.
“Trump’s federal thugs beat him in the face and chest. Then we heard gunshots. And Alex Peretti was lying in the snow, dead,” Springsteen sings.
Other actors and artists who have spoken out in recent days include Natalie Portman, Elijah Wood, Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish. Actor Mark Ruffalo described Peretti’s death as a “cold-blooded murder.”
The sports world is also starting to get involved.
Chris Finch, head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, described the shooting incident as “unconscionable” and expressed his support for the demonstrators. So did NBA star Steph Curry.
“There’s a lot of change that needs to happen,” Curry, who plays for the Golden State Warriors, told reporters this week. He said he was glued to news coverage of the recent shooting in Minnesota.
Gershon Yabosele, the New York Knicks’ player, went further the day after Pretty was shot.
“I cannot remain silent. What is happening is beyond comprehension. We are talking about murders here, and these are serious matters. The situation must change, and the government must stop operating this way. I stand with Minnesota,” he wrote on X.
Trump appears to be softening his tone on immigration — at least by his standards.
“We will de-escalate a little,” he said during an interview Tuesday on Fox News. He also reprimanded Bovino, who removed him from his role.
“Bovino is very good, but he’s a pretty outside-type guy,” he said. “In some cases, that’s good. Maybe it wasn’t so good here.”
But Trump backed away from his description that he was reducing his operations in Minnesota. In a social media post, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey warned that he was “playing with fire” by refusing to enforce federal immigration laws.
Even before Pretty’s death on Saturday, public opinion had begun to turn against Trump on immigration, which was among his strongest issues at the beginning of his second term.
Only 38% of US adults approve of the way Trump is handling immigration, compared to 49% in March. So according to The AP-NORC poll was conducted Jan. 8-11This was shortly after an American citizen was shot dead in Minnesota.
There are also some signs that Trump’s approval of immigration may be declining among Republicans. The president’s approval among self-described Republicans Decreased from 88% in March to 76% In a January AP-NORC poll.
A separate Fox News poll, conducted from Friday to Monday, showed that 59% of voters described ICE as “very aggressive,” an increase of 10 points since last July.
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Associated Press writer Lynley Sanders in Washington contributed.