Cawthorn invokes Trump in campaign video amid orgy, cocaine comments scandal

Embattled Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) would like to assure everyone that, despite the backlash toward his wild claims of Washington, D.C. orgies and cocaine use, he has every intention of sticking around. Oh, and he's a friend of former President Donald Trump's, lest we forget.
"The radical left, the establishment, and the media want to take me down. Their attacks have been relentless," Cawthorn tweeted Thursday. "I won't stop fighting. I won't bow to the mob. They want to silence the America First movement. I'm not going anywhere."
Cawthorn's message was accompanied by an ad claiming Democrats are "terrified" of Cawthorn because he is "effective," and will "never stop putting America first."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The end of the 30-second spot highlights a photo of Cawthorn and Trump, alongside a quote from the former president: "He has my complete and total endorsement."
Contrary to his messaging, it's not just Democrats that Cawthorn has irked. The lawmaker was recently reprimanded by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) at the behest of angry caucus members, and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has opted to back one of Cawthorn's challengers in an upcoming primary. Cast out by many, Cawthorn now seems to be "relying on his ties to Trump to survive," posits CNN's Manu Raju.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
June 29 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the AI genie, Iran saving face, and bad language bombs
-
A tall ship adventure in the Mediterranean
The Week Recommends Sailing aboard this schooner and exploring Portugal, Spain and Monaco is a 'magical' experience
-
How drone warfare works
The Explainer From Ukraine to Iran, it has become clear that unmanned aircraft are rapidly revolutionising modern warfare
-
Trump's strikes on Iran: a 'spectacular success'?
In Depth Military humiliations 'expose the brittleness' of Tehran's ageing regime, but risk reinforcing its commitment to its nuclear program
-
Will NATO countries meet their new spending goal?
today's big question The cost of keeping Trump happy
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible
-
Supreme Court lets states ax Planned Parenthood funds
Speed Read The court ruled that Planned Parenthood cannot sue South Carolina over the state's effort to deny it funding
-
Trump plans Iran talks, insists nuke threat gone
Speed Read 'The war is done' and 'we destroyed the nuclear,' said President Trump
-
Trump embraces NATO after budget vow, charm offensive
Speed Read The president reversed course on his longstanding skepticism of the trans-Atlantic military alliance
-
Bibi's back: what will Netanyahu do next?
Today's Big Question Riding high after a series of military victories, Israel's PM could push for peace in Gaza – or secure his own position with snap election