Former President Donald Trump gave the Senate’s bipartisan border deal the kiss of death Monday, calling it a “death wish” for Republicans.
“Only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill, which only gives Shutdown Authority after 5000 Encounters a day, when we already have the right to CLOSE THE BORDER NOW, which must be done,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party,” he said. “It takes the HORRIBLE JOB the Democrats have done on Immigration and the Border, absolves them, and puts it all squarely on the shoulders of Republicans. Don’t be STUPID!!!”
The former president said a separate border and immigration bill is needed.
“It should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form! The Democrats broke Immigration and the Border. They should fix it. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” he said.
The legislation was unveiled Sunday, prompting Mr. Trump’s comments within hours.
The border security portion would expand the government’s deportation force, give the president new powers to stop illegal immigrants at the border and try to speed up immigration court.
It also includes money for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
House Republicans had said the deal would be “dead on arrival” before the details were revealed.
After the legislation was made public, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, said it is “even worse than we expected.”
Mr. Trump has urged Republicans for the past month not to agree to any border “unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions & Millions of people.”
His comments have angered Democrats and Senate Republicans who say that he doesn’t want the border issue to be solved because it would be a political win for President Biden’s reelection effort.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the only reason House Republicans won’t support the border bill is because they are owned by former President Donald Trump.
“House Republicans at this point are wholly own subsidiaries of Donald Trump,” the New York Democrat said on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday. “They’re not working to find real solutions for the American people. They are following orders from the former president.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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