Arnold Schwarzenegger ripped into Democrats over their insistence that President Donald Trump had been the aggressor in the ongoing battle over gerrymandering and redistricting.
The former California governor appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" and argued that Democrats had been gerrymandering for many decades before the president jumped into the fray.
'It's all between Democrats and Republicans, and the ones that are getting left behind are the people.'
"Is it fair to argue that — do you believe that the Republican Party is starting this?" host Jake Tapper asked.
"No, Jake. There has been gerrymandering going on for 200 years," Schwarzenegger replied.
"There is such extreme gerrymandering going on that in a state like Massachusetts, it has, like, 40% of the people voting for Trump — they have zero representatives. The Republican Party has zero representatives sent to the House. Think about that," he added.
"In New Mexico, 45% of the people voted for Trump and vote Republican, and zero is sent to the House, zero representatives from the Republican Party," Schwarzenegger said. "So there's gerrymandering, crazy gerrymandering going on all over the country, and we wanted to try to stop it in California."
Schwarzenegger has been on record in opposing efforts led by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to redistrict California's congressional seats in order to send more Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.
"I think this whole thing about finger-pointing and saying, 'They did it, so therefore we should [do] it,' that's not really the way to go," he added. "The one party should outperform the other party."
"When you think about this trying to outcheat each other rather than outperform each other, it’s all between Democrats and Republicans, and the ones that are getting left behind are the people," Schwarzenegger added.
Tapper pointed out that about 62% said they supported the proposition in California that would allow Democrats to redistrict the deep blue state.
The entire interview can be viewed on CNN's YouTube channel.
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On June 17, Arnold Schwarzenegger braved the coven that is ABC’s “The View.” Joy Behar tried to snare him with a question about ICE raids, but it didn’t go in the America-hating direction she hoped it would. In fact, it went in the completely opposite direction.
Pat Gray of “Pat Gray Unleashed” plays the clip of the Terminator’s epic pro-America speech.
“You're an immigrant in this country. Did you have a visceral reaction to what [ICE is] doing?” Behar asked.
“I'm so proud and happy that I was embraced by the American people,” Schwarzenegger responded. “I came over here at the age of 21 with absolutely nothing. And then to create a career like that — I mean, in no other country in the world could you do that.”
“My bodybuilding career … my acting career, becoming governor, the beautiful family that I have created — all of this is because of America,” he continued. “This is the greatest country in the world, and it is the land of opportunity.”
Schwarzenegger then announced that he will be giving the keynote speech at Mount Vernon on July 4 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America. The event will include a naturalization ceremony — a formal rite of passage in which legal immigrants who have met the requirements to become U.S. citizens take the Oath of Allegiance, officially granting them U.S. citizenship. During the ceremony, these new citizens pledge loyalty to the United States, renounce allegiance to foreign governments, and agree to uphold the Constitution.
Schwarzenegger made it crystal clear that he loves this ceremony. “It's really a great, great celebration, and this is what this is all about — to celebrate people becoming Americans and coming to America,” he said.
All this while, the panel was politely nodding along, occasionally adding a “that’s true” or a “that’s great.” But then Schwarzenegger said something that caused their countenances to visibly sour.
“But the key thing also is at the same time, we got to do things legal,” he said. “Those people that are doing illegal things in America and the foreigners, they are not smart.”
“When you come to America, you’re a guest, and you have to behave like a guest. Like when I go to someone’s house and I’m a guest, then I will do everything I can to keep things clean … and do everything that is the right thing to do rather than committing a crime or being abusive,” he continued.
That’s when Sunny Hostin placed her manicured, heavily ringed hand on his arm as if to say, “All right, honey, don’t go there.”
But he would not be deterred. “The important thing is when you become an immigrant to think about: Okay, I go to America because I want to use America for the great opportunities that America has in education, in jobs, creating a family. … Then I have to give something back,” he said, arguing that immigrants “have a responsibility … to give back to America.”
They “didn't expect conservative Arnold from 30 years ago”; they wanted “‘screw your freedom’ from five years ago,” says Pat.
To see the footage of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s patriotic speech that left “The View’s” hosts deeply uncomfortable, watch the video above.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger shut down Joy Behar when the co-host of "The View" attempted to goad him into projecting anti-ICE sentiment with a loaded question. Instead, Schwarzenegger redirected the conversation to how incredible the United States is for immigrants and how those coming to the country must "behave like a guest."
Schwarzenegger appeared on "The View" on Tuesday, where Behar asked the former Republican governor of California if he had a "visceral reaction" to raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempting to detain illegal aliens.
'And those people that are doing illegal things in America, they’re the foreigners. They are not smart because when you come to America, you’re a guest, and you have to behave like a guest.'
Rather than taking the divisive bait from Behar, Schwarzenegger waxed poetically about how thankful and lucky he is to be a citizen of the United States.
"I'm so proud and happy that I was embraced by the American people like that," Schwarzenegger stated.
The bodybuilder turned Hollywood action movie star explained, "I mean, imagine: I came over here at the age of 21 with absolutely nothing. And then to create a career like that, I mean, in no other country in the world could you do that."
Schwarzenegger legally immigrated to the United States from Austria in 1968 and then became a U.S. citizen in 1983.
Schwarzenegger said the incredible achievements in his life are "all because of America."
"So this is why I am so, so happy to see firsthand that this is the greatest country in the world, and this is the land of opportunity," he continued.
Schwarzenegger proclaimed that he is a "proud American" and a "proud immigrant."
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He added that the United States has a "great history" with immigrants but stressed that those seeking opportunities in the U.S. must come here legally.
"But the key thing also, at the same time, you've got to do things legal," he said. "And those people that are doing illegal things in America, they’re the foreigners. They are not smart because when you come to America, you’re a guest, and you have to behave like a guest."
"Like when I go to someone’s house and I’m a guest, then I will do everything I can — keep things clean and to make my bed and to do everything that is the right thing to do — rather than committing a crime or be abusive or something like that. So that doesn't really work in this country," the "Terminator" actor said.
Seemingly not in agreement with his legal immigration sentiment, "The View" co-host Sunny Hostin is seen on video tapping Schwarzenegger's arm to interrupt him mid-sentence. Hostin then attempted to butt in verbally on multiple occasions.
However, Schwarzenegger ignored Hostin and continued to make his point.
Schwarzenegger noted that legal immigrants who "use America for the great opportunities that America has, in education, jobs, creating a family, all of those things," have a responsibility.
Schwarzenegger declared that legal immigrants have a "responsibility ... to give back to America and to pay back America and to go do something for your community for no money whatsoever."
Schwarzenegger said it was important for legal immigrants to "make this country a better place."
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After the audience applauded Schwarzenegger, "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg attempted to pour cold water on his patriotic speech.
"Right, but, Arnold, don’t forget there’s — 90% of the people who come here are trying to do the right thing," Goldberg claimed.
Goldberg then attempted to steer the conversation back to the efforts by ICE agents to detain individuals who are in the country illegally.
"And a lot of what’s happening right now is people are getting snatched who shouldn’t be snatched out of the country," Goldberg opined. "People who have visas, people who have all those things. So, we want all the right people. We don’t want people who are doing bad stuff."
Hostin blurted, "Immigrants are much less likely to commit crimes in this country than actual American-born citizens."
Hostin then brought the discussion back to the anti-ICE protests by rehashing how President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard to assist federal immigration agents in Los Angeles earlier this month, despite California Gov. Gavin Newsom not welcoming the troops into the city.
Schwarzenegger noted that the National Guard serves under both state and federal command, and that the president can federalize the National Guard in certain circumstances.
Just Security — an independent, nonpartisan, daily digital law and policy journal — stated, "Once federalized, National Guard troops come under the full command and control of the secretary of defense. In essence, National Guard troops become part of the federal military until and unless they are returned to state status."
Schwarzenegger emphasized that it is "very important" for the president and governors to "work together" to achieve a common goal.
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Newsom’s redistricting gambit is nothing but performative politics dressed up as a defense of democracy.
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