- The Washington Times - Thursday, January 18, 2024

A version of this story appeared in the On Background newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive On Background delivered directly to your inbox each Friday.

Former President Donald Trump warned against a border deal unless it includes “everything needed” to stop the flood of illegal immigrants.

“I do not think we should do a Border Deal, at all, unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions & Millions of people, many from parts unknown, into our once great, but soon to be great again, Country!” Mr. Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social.

“Also,” he added, “I have no doubt our wonderful Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, will only make a deal that is PERFECT ON THE BORDER. Remember, without Strong Borders and Honest Elections, we don’t have a Country!!!”

His comments come after President Biden invited congressional leaders to the White House to discuss the $110 billion supplemental funding request that includes emergency spending for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. At the meeting, Mr. Johnson dismissed the idea of making a border deal with the president and Democrats because their proposals don’t have enough in them to stop what many Republicans call an invasion.

“We are insistent that the elements have to be meaningful. The House is ready to act, but the legislation has to solve the problem and that’s the critical point,” Rep. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, told reporters at the White House after the meeting.


SEE ALSO: Johnson digs in against Senate border deal after meeting with Biden


“We understand that there is concern about the safety, security, sovereignty of Ukraine, but the American people have those same concerns about our domestic sovereignty, and our safety and security,” he said.

Rep. Jamie Raskin argued at a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on immigration Wednesday that Republicans “just operate at the beck and call of Donald Trump.”

“Rather than joining Democrats and Biden in good faith, bipartisan negotiations to make progress on immigration, they are taking orders from Donald Trump and actively obstructing a bipartisan border deal,” the Maryland Democrat said.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.

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