Newsmax host complains that removing 700 ICE agents from Minnesota “looks like a loss”
Carl Higbie: “We didn't vote for that. OK? In fact, I voted for seven thousand more ICE agents in Minnesota.”
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From the February 4, 2026, edition of Newsmax's Carl Higbie Frontline
CARL HIGBIE (HOST): Man, infighting. I couldn't help but notice today between Homan versus Noem -- like the dueling pressers -- you have MAGA favorite Ed Martin getting pushed down at the DOJ. Let's not forget about the fact that Republicans, I don't know, split on the funding bill, the Senate not passing the SAVE Act that the House passed in April. Guys, get your act together because the only winner out of all this ridiculous infighting is Democrats. Tom Homan in Minnesota this morning just withdrew 700 ICE agents, saying there will be one chain of command.
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HIGBIE: This looks like an L. The mob wanted ICE out, Bovino got the boot, and now we're withdrawing ICE agents. Look, I know Homan. I love the guy. I think he's great. By the way, Homan did say it's not a retreat. It's smarter enforcement. But the mob is going to claim this as a victory and ramp this up because of the infighting. That's the reality here. It's really not what people voted for. I'm going to be honest. If it was me, I would have said, hey, like, we're going to reach 5,000 or whatever number of deportations, and then we'll ramp it down. And then I would go hit that number, and then I would draw it down. And then you claim the win. But right now, I'm sorry, but it looks like a loss. And I know a lot of people are really pissed off about this. I'm a realist. I'm not a sycophant. But an hour later -- and trust me, these things are always coordinated to not step on each other. Kristi Noem is at the border saying, oh, we secured the border.
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HIGBIE: Yes, this is great. The border should be secure. But this is the thing -- why is the border czar who answers directly to the president in Minnesota dealing with the homeland talking about one chain of command and the head of DHS, Department of Homeland Security, on the border, talking about the border czar's job, Trump went out and gave an interview, also taking a victory lap about pulling the 700 ICE agents.
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HIGBIE: Mr. President, who is in your ear? They are wrong. I'm telling you this because I want you to win and be successful. Look, I have been in your corner since before you came down the golden escalator in 2015, and I have never wavered. So when I tell you this, please listen to me, sir. This is not a good thing. It looks like a loss. And you're not someone who backs down from anything, ever. OK? And this is not why America voted for you. There are two factions right now in the Republican Party and in D.C. This is the same thing that stopped the Trump agenda in his first term, which is partially, moderation. We didn't vote for that. OK? In fact, I voted for seven thousand more ICE agents in Minnesota. And when you moderate, the left wins. We should be taking ground, not giving it up. But a bunch of people who we never elected -- in fact, the folks that we the people, voted to have no influence.They have somehow gotten Trump to moderate and compromise on core pillars that we voted for, for concern -- like our concerns, not of the American people, but for their own political standing.