The ally of President Trump claimed that ICE agents, who have spearheaded the president’s nationwide mass deportation campaign, could be assigned to prevent supposed election fraud, even though their mission is limited to immigration enforcement.

“You’re damn right we’re gonna have ICE surround the polls come November,” Bannon said this week on his “War Room” podcast. “We’re not gonna sit here and allow you to steal the country again. And you can whine and cry and throw your toys out of the pram all you want, but we will never again allow an election to be stolen.”

Bannon even suggested that the U.S. military could be deployed at polling places as part of Trump’s call to “nationalize” elections in more than a dozen Democratic-led states.

“You’ve got to call up the 82nd and 101st Airborne on the Insurrection Act,” Bannon said. “You’ve got to get around every (polling place) and make sure only people with IDs, people are actually registered to vote, and people that are United States citizens vote in this election. Full stop. We will not accept anything less.”

Trump has not spelled out exactly what he means by his call to “nationalize” election enforcement. The Constitution says states, not the federal government, are responsible for running elections and ensuring free and fair votes.

Trump and Bannon have repeatedly spewed false claims of widespread voter fraud, especially undocumented immigrants somehow being permitted to vote in droves, despite countless studies showing that it is virtually unheard of.

Republicans are pushing new legislation that would require mandatory proof of citizenship to vote. But Democrats oppose the measure, noting that it’s already a crime for undocumented immigrants to vote and tens of millions of native-born Americans don’t have passports or any other proof of U.S. citizenship.

Voting rights advocates say the real goal of any show of law enforcement force around polling places would be to intimidate Americans, especially Latinos, from exercising their right to vote.

The war of words comes as Democrats are favored to make major gains in the 2026 congressional midterms and have a decent chance of flipping the House and maybe even the Senate.

Republicans hold only a four-vote majority in the House, with political analysts projecting about 20 swing seats up for grabs.

Democrats face a steeper climb in the Senate where they would need to flip four GOP-held seats to take control of the upper chamber.

Homan said he has ordered 700 federal agents to leave the flashpoint city after touting improved cooperation from state and local officials since Trump tapped him to take over leadership of the operation.

He said about 2,000 officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol and other agencies remain in the Twin Cities, but held out the possibility of further drawdowns if conditions improve.

“Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration, and as a result of the need for less public safety officers to do this work and a safer environment, I am announcing, effective immediately, we’ll draw down 700 people effective today,” Homan told reporters.

The pullback suggests Trump wants to ease tensions in Minneapolis, especially after the killing of protester Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents has drawn widespread criticism.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said the pullback “is not enough.”

“All of ICE needs to leave Minneapolis now,” Schumer tweeted.

Even as he announced the partial withdrawal, Homan stuck with his trademark tough-talking stance, blaming protesters for the violence even though videos have shown them mostly acting peacefully.

Homan blamed protesters’ “rhetoric” and “opposition” for sparking confrontations with ICE and Border Patrol, despite the fact that they have a First Amendment right to protest the crackdown.

The White House has long blamed sanctuary cities and states, which limit law enforcement cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security, for shielding undocumented immigrants from arrest and deportation.

Critics say immigration agents should stick to tracking down criminals instead of ordinary undocumented immigrants who have no criminal records. They also want the feds to stop carrying out random sweeps of suspected undocumented immigrants and demanding proof of citizenship.

Despite the fierce controversy, Homan claimed the ICE operation in Minnesota has been a success.

“I think it’s very effective as far as public safety goes,” Homan said. “Was it a perfect operation? No. No.”

Homan didn’t mention by name either Pretti or unarmed motorist Renee Good, who was shot dead by agents on Jan. 7. He defended agents accused in the killings and other alleged wrongdoing.

“I don’t think anybody, purposely, didn’t do something they should have done,” he said.

With President Trump apparently not pressing for any deal, congressional Republican leaders pushed a grab bag of conservative health care policy priorities that would not extend tax credits for Affordable Care Act insurance plans, which will dramatically increase in 2026 for more than 20 million people if no action is taken.

The GOP plan has virtually no chance of passing the Senate, where some Democratic support would be needed, leaving some moderate Republicans eyeing an 11th hour deal with Democrats to extend the Obamacare tax credits and avoid the spiraling cost increases that they fear could haunt them at the ballot box in the midterm elections.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-New York), who represents a Westchester County swing district, and Long Island’s Rep. Nick LaLota (R-New York) say they are joining an effort of a bipartisan group of moderates to force a House vote on an extension while negotiations continue on a longer term solution.

But conservative and pro-Trump Republicans are bitterly opposed to any plan to bolster the system that helps people obtain insurance coverage outside of an employer-based insurance plan or government-run program.

Democratic congressional leaders are pushing for a simple extension of the subsidies for three years. They could be open to negotiating on a shorter extension and might even consider income caps or other restrictions, but don’t believe Republicans are serious about forging a deal would need to pass the House and the Senate and win Trump’s signature.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer, both New York Democrats, accuse Republicans of failing to deal with the looming health crisis for months, even as they found time to pass Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which included tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy and cuts to Medicaid for lower-income people.

Republicans, who control both houses of Congress and the White House, counter by claiming Democrats are more interested in scoring political points than reaching a bipartisan solution.

If no health deal is reached, more than 20 million Americans will be hit with dramatically higher health insurance premiums in the new year. Polls say voters already give Trump and Republicans failing marks when it comes to dealing with health care, the economy and higher prices.

That could spell doom for Republicans as they try to hold onto control of Congress in the 2026 midterms with Democrats hoping that a blue wave can catapult them back into control of the House and maybe even the Senate.

Trump branded affordability as a “hoax” in a speech to his Cabinet in which he also downplayed the chances of the Republican Congress passing a deal to prevent looming big increases in health insurance premiums.

“There’s this fake narrative that the Democrats talk about, ‘affordability,’” Trump said. “They just say the word. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“The word ‘affordability’ is a con job by the Democrats,” he added.

Trump’s attack on criticism of his economic record marks a big shift from his recent efforts to talk up his concern about affordability and even to brand himself as the “affordability president” last week.

Trump amicably discussed the issue with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at an ice-breaking White House meeting on Nov. 22 during which the incoming mayor recounted how his Democratic campaign won over working-class voters concerned about the high cost of living.

He has apparently decided that even using the word lends credence to Democratic attacks on his handling of the economy and inflation which Trump blames on former President Joe Biden.

“I inherited the worst inflation in history,” Trump said. “There was no affordability.”

Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump’s message, predicting that the U.S. economy would strengthen next year.

“It is absurd that Democrats talk about an affordability crisis that they created,” Vance said. “We are fixing the problem that Joe Biden caused. .. 2026 is going to be the year that this economy really takes off.”

Trump also offered some support to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is facing a mushrooming scandal over allegations that he ordered the killings of survivors from a September attack on supposed drug boats in the Caribbean.

Hegseth himself sought to pass the buck on the contentious decision, saying it was made by a top Pentagon general.

Trump faces a difficult political environment as he closes out the first year of his second term in office. Recent polls put his approval rating at around 40%, with even lower ratings for his handling of the economy and inflation.

Americans largely blame Trump’s tariffs for raising the prices they pay at the cash register and experts say companies will continue to pass the high levies on imported goods on to consumers.

The standoff on extending tax credits for Affordable Care Act health insurance policies could mark another blow to Trump as more than 20 million Americans are expected to suffer big increases in premiums if he cannot get Republican allies in Congress to agree to a deal.

The test of the White House message will come as the 2026 midterms edge closer and Democrats aim to flip the House of Representatives and put Republicans on the defensive in the Senate.

The GOP holds a narrow six-seat edge in the House, meaning Democrats would likely only need to flip a handful of seats to win control of the lower chamber and put a significant block on Trump’s right-wing agenda.

The trailblazing mayor-elect won praise from supporters who said his victory reflected his inspiring message of generational change and indefatigable campaign focus on affordability.

“Our assignment is to elect the fiercest fighters for the working class,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio. “In New York City, unquestionably, it is Zohran Mamdani… We have a future to fight for together.”

Gov. Hochul vowed to work closely with Mamdani after calling him on Election Night.

“I’m looking forward to working together to make our city more affordable and livable,” Hochul tweeted. “Congratulations to him and to every New Yorker who made their voice heard in one of the city’s highest-turnout elections on record.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer, who refused to endorse Mamdani before Election Day, congratulated the new mayor on “his well-earned and historic victory.”

“Mamdani uplift(ed) the values that make our city strong: equality of opportunity, fairness and an abiding concern for all New Yorkers,” Schumer said in a statement.

With near-record turnout, Mamdani, 34, defeated ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a repeat of his Democratic primary election win, with Republican Curtis Sliwa trailing far behind.

President Trump’s endorsement of Cuomo on the eve of Election Day may have hurt more than it helped with a city electorate that disapproves of the president’s performance by a 70% to 30% margin, according to exit polls.

Trump didn’t mention Mamdani in his first reaction after the upstart candidate’s win and denied that the results across the country amount to a repudiation of him.

“Trump wasn’t on the ballot and the (government) shutdown were the two reasons Republicans lost,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform, quoting unnamed political analysts.

Ex-Mayor Bill De Blasio praised Mamdani, who will become the Big Apple’s first Muslim mayor, for returning “with humility” to flip places that he lost in the primary, like Latino neighborhoods in the Bronx and Black communities in Brooklyn and Queens.

“What a beautiful day for New York,” the former mayor tweeted.

But critics sounded fearful about the impact a Mayor Mamdani would have on the city.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, hit out at Mamdani’s “long, disturbing record on issues of deep concern to the Jewish community,” a reference to the mayor-elect’s fierce criticism of Israel and his refusal to disavow the “globalize the intifada” slogan.

“We will approach the next four years with resolve,” Greenblatt said in a statement. “We expect the mayor of the city with the largest Jewish population in the world to stand unequivocally against antisemitism in all its varied forms.”

Even in deep-blue New York City, Mamdani didn’t have an easy time unifying the Democratic Party leadership after he trounced Cuomo in the June primary.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, stayed on the fence for months, refusing to issue an endorsement of the party’s standard bearer, even after meeting with the nominee along with other lawmakers and faith leaders in Jeffries’ central Brooklyn district.

Jeffries finally backed Mamdani only hours before a self-proclaimed deadline of the beginning of early voting.

Schumer, the Senate minority leader, never endorsed Mamdani at all. Several other local Congress members also sat out the race.

The state’s other top Democrat, Gov. Hochul, did get behind Mamdani’s bid in the summer, perhaps looking to solidify her own support on the left ahead of her reelection battle next year.

A handful of suburban Democratic lawmakers, like Long Island’s Rep. Tom Suozzi and Rep. Lauren Gillen, even took the very unusual step of saying they wouldn’t vote for him.

Republicans were chomping at the bit to make Mamdani the face of the Democratic Party as next year’s crucial midterm congressional elections loom.

Even before voters headed to the polls, the National Republican Congressional Committee declared in a strategy memo that “the Democratic Party has been hijacked by the radical left.”

But not all Democrats think Mamdani will drag down the party from coast to coast.

Basil Smikle, a Columbia University professor and Democratic strategist, acknowledged that New York City has a very different electoral roadmap than elsewhere, but insisted the enthusiasm that Mamdani has brought to the table could play out elsewhere.

“What’s happening in New York is something that can be mapped across the country,” Smikle said. “If this new coalition can solidify itself, not just in New York City but in Virginia and New Jersey, I do think that’s a way forward to Democrats in ’26 and ’28.”

Ex-Rep. Steve Israel, a Democrat who once represented a Long Island swing district, said he disagrees with some of Mamdani’s policies, but is bullish about his impact on national politics.

“Here’s the good news: I like a Democratic Party who has a person like Zohran Mamdani, who’s a generational talent in voter turnout… and creating energy on the street,” Israel said.

Supporters of the sprawling rallies that drew millions slammed Trump for posting the 18-second clip depicting him wearing a crown and piloting a KING TRUMP warplane over some of the sprawling crowds that gathered on Saturday to protest his hard-line second term in power.

The phony plane was shown dumping foul brown waste on some of the throngs of people who marched through Times Square.

“Anybody who would depict himself as dumping waste on the American people … doesn’t really warrant [holding] the powers of the presidency,” said Mike Zamore of the American Civil Liberties Union, told CNN on Monday. “It’s another reflection of the lack of regard the president has for the people of this country,”

“The GOP can smear these protests all they want, but they can’t silence the truth,” tweeted Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn), who participated in the Times Square rally.

Rocker Kenny Loggins, whose hit “Danger Zone” is used in the Trump clip, demanded that the song be removed.

“I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us,” the “Footloose” singer said in a statement.

House Speaker Mike Johnson Monday accused protesters of inciting violence because some carried signs with the slogan “86 47,” a euphemism for ousting Trump, who is the 47th president.

“He’s using satire to make a point,” Johnson told reporters on Capitol Hill. “He’s not calling for the murder of his political opponents.”

Trump didn’t immediately comment on the reaction to the video, which was created by a right-wing Artificial Intelligence meme creator.

But he derided the nationwide crowds, estimated at up to 7 million people in cities and towns from coast to coast, as being unrepresentative of the country and said the rallies were bankrolled by “radical left lunatics.”

The White House has recently stepped up its use of AI-generated fake videos to needle political opponents.

It posted a fake short video featuring Democratic congressional leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, with the latter wearing a Mexican-style sombrero, to dramatize the false GOP claim that Democrats want to fund health care for undocumented immigrants.

Vice President JD Vance said the sombrero video was all in good fun.

A Republican campaign committee last week used AI to create a realistic-looking video of Schumer boasting about the political impact of the government shutdown.

But critics say it’s no joke to depict a president attacking his constituents.

Supporters of the sprawling rallies that drew millions slammed Trump for posting the 18-second clip depicting him wearing a crown and piloting a KING TRUMP warplane over some of the sprawling crowds that gathered on Saturday to protest his hard-line second term in power.

The phony plane was shown dumping foul brown waste on some of the throngs of people who marched through Times Square.

“Anybody who would depict himself as dumping waste on the American people … doesn’t really warrant [holding] the powers of the presidency,” said Mike Zamore of the American Civil Liberties Union, told CNN on Monday. “It’s another reflection of the lack of regard the president has for the people of this country,”

“The GOP can smear these protests all they want, but they can’t silence the truth,” tweeted Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn), who participated in the Times Square rally.

Rocker Kenny Loggins, whose hit “Danger Zone” is used in the Trump clip, demanded that the song be removed.

“I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us,” the “Footloose” singer said in a statement.

House Speaker Mike Johnson Monday accused protesters of inciting violence because some carried signs with the slogan “86 47,” a euphemism for ousting Trump, who is the 47th president.

“He’s using satire to make a point,” Johnson told reporters on Capitol Hill. “He’s not calling for the murder of his political opponents.”

Trump didn’t immediately comment on the reaction to the video, which was created by a right-wing Artificial Intelligence meme creator.

But he derided the nationwide crowds, estimated at up to 7 million people in cities and towns from coast to coast, as being unrepresentative of the country and said the rallies were bankrolled by “radical left lunatics.”

The White House has recently stepped up its use of AI-generated fake videos to needle political opponents.

It posted a fake short video featuring Democratic congressional leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, with the latter wearing a Mexican-style sombrero, to dramatize the false GOP claim that Democrats want to fund health care for undocumented immigrants.

Vice President JD Vance said the sombrero video was all in good fun.

A Republican campaign committee last week used AI to create a realistic-looking video of Schumer boasting about the political impact of the government shutdown.

But critics say it’s no joke to depict a president attacking his constituents.

“We’re terribly sorry,” Trey Parker said with a grin late Thursday as his partner Matt Stone sat next to him on a panel at the Comic-Con festival in San Diego.

Parker brushed off a joke from panel moderator Josh Horowitz that he should be ready to face legal action from Trump or the White House.

“It’s fine,” he said. “We’re ready.”

The yuk fest came after the White House hit back at the show for slamming Trump in its Wednesday night season premiere.

“This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention,” said Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesman. “No fourth-rate show can derail President Trump’s hot streak.”

The plot of South Park’s Season 27 premiere was totally focused on Trump and his penchant for suing critics, including CBS and Paramount, which airs the cartoon show.

In one scene, Jesus Christ appears to warn residents of the fictional town to avoid protesting against Trump. In another, Trump gets into bed with Satan but the devil makes fun of the president’s tiny manhood.

“I can’t even see anything, it’s so small,” the devil says.

The show’s creators may have felt comfortable with the edgy political content because they just inked a $1.5 billion five-season contract extension with Paramount.

Paramount recently settled a lawsuit Trump filed over what he claimed was deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with his 2024 presidential rival Kamala Harris.

The Trump-controlled Federal Communications Commission Friday approved the media giant’s multibillion-dollar merger deal with Hollywood studio Skydance.

“We’re terribly sorry,” Trey Parker said with a grin late Thursday as his partner Matt Stone sat next to him on a panel at the Comic-Con festival in San Diego.

Parker brushed off a joke from panel moderator Josh Horowitz that he should be ready to face legal action from Trump or the White House.

“It’s fine,” he said. “We’re ready.”

The yuk fest came after the White House hit back at the show for slamming Trump in its Wednesday night season premiere.

“This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention,” said Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesman. “No fourth-rate show can derail President Trump’s hot streak.”

The plot of South Park’s Season 27 premiere was totally focused on Trump and his penchant for suing critics, including CBS and Paramount, which airs the cartoon show.

In one scene, Jesus Christ appears to warn residents of the fictional town to avoid protesting against Trump. In another, Trump gets into bed with Satan but the devil makes fun of the president’s tiny manhood.

“I can’t even see anything, it’s so small,” the devil says.

The show’s creators may have felt comfortable with the edgy political content because they just inked a $1.5 billion five-season contract extension with Paramount.

Paramount recently settled a lawsuit Trump filed over what he claimed was deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with his 2024 presidential rival Kamala Harris.

The Trump-controlled Federal Communications Commission Friday approved the media giant’s multibillion-dollar merger deal with Hollywood studio Skydance.

The network said it would need nearly two weeks to prepare for the proposed clash, which is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 23.

“The window for a final 2024 presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is closing,” CNN wrote Tuesday in a story about its own deadline.

Trump has given no indication that he is reconsidering his decision to forego another clash with Harris who was widely deemed the winner of their first debate on Sept. 10, hosted by ABC News.

He has said the proposed second debate date is “too late” even though it is similar to the later debates in previous presidential election cycles.

Trump also dodged a traditional sit-down interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” which aired a similar interview with Harris on Monday.

The Harris campaign responded to the CNN deadline by reaffirming her willingness to participate.

“[Harris] remains ready to appear at CNN debate on October 23 if Trump will agree,” said Brian Fallon, a campaign spokesman.

Viewer polls deemed Harris the winner of the first debate, although the race remains too close to call according to surveys of likely voters.

Trump said he actually won the debate.