OPINION:
President Donald Trump, in an early morning tweet, vowed to put a stop to the flow of foreigners making their way from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador into America by using U.S. military, if necessary, to close and protect the southern borders.
And with that, Trump’s poll numbers, among his base, no doubt flew skyward.
Tough border control was a key agenda item that fueled Trump’s rise to White House victory. His conservative base has been biting nails for a while now, wondering if he meant what he said back on the campaign trails of 2015 and 2016 when he vowed a wall — wondering if he could overcome the resistance from even those within his own Republican party.
“That could be one of the big year-end fights and battles that still remains to be played out,” said Sen. John Thune, CNN reported. “The president is very adamant about getting more money [for a border wall].”
House Speaker Paul Ryan, meanwhile, predicted a “big fight” was brewing over the matter.
Trump, in typical Trump fashion, raised the stakes a bit higher — particularly for those Republicans who are facing tough election fights in the coming cycles — and talked the toughest talk possible on border control on Twitter.
He wrote: “I am watching the Democrat Party led (because they want Open Borders and existing weak laws) assault on our country by Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, whose leaders are doing little to stop this large flow of people, INCLUDING MANY CRIMINALS, from entering Mexico to U.S….”
That was followed by this tweet: “…In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught — and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!..”
And that was followed by this: “…The assault of our country at our Southern Border, including the Criminal elements and DRUGS pouring in, is far more important to me, as President, than Trade or the USMCA. Hopefully Mexico will stop this onslaught at their Northern Border. All Democrats fault for weak laws!”
His tweets are both the stuff of fright and applause.
The left — the RINOs — the weak-kneed among the political classes are shaking, tit-tatting and scolding right about now. But the conservative base?
Trump’s core group of voters?
They’re cheering and saying this: You go, guy. About time. Let’s get tough on the borders.
Get ready for the fireworks. The big question mark in the air is whether Trump’s just idly threatening — or whether he really means it. Here’s a clue: He is, after all, the commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley.
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