(ConservativeSense.com) – After calling on Republicans in Congress to reject any package that falls short of including “everything needed” to stop illegal immigration at the border, former President Donald Trump is receiving some pushback from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his leadership team.
Senate GOP Whip John Thune of South Dakota commented on Trump’s all-or-nothing approach, which he said is “not helpful.” Thune said the proposed package, which includes funding for foreign aid, also contains “a number of pieces” that conservatives have “been trying to get done for years.”
The dispute over the Border Deal has to do with the fact that the funding is tied into a package that will also provide funding to Israel and Ukraine amid the ongoing conflicts both nations are embroiled in, as well as for securing the Indo-Pacific region to protect Taiwan.
On Wednesday night, Jan. 17, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social and said he doesn’t think a Border Deal should be done “at all” unless “EVERYTHING [sic] needed” by the federal government to “shut down” what he described as an “INVASION [sic] of Millions & Millions.” Trump said many of the new arrivals also come “from parts unknown.”
McConnell disagrees with Trump’s recommendation and has been telling his fellow Republicans in the Senate that the best chance of securing the border would be to compromise with Democrats on the spending bill. He said Congress has a “unique opportunity to accomplish something” at a time when the government is deeply divided.
Another member of McConnell’s leadership team, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, also openly disagreed with Trump’s approach. He said that Congress is working with what it needs “to get enough votes” in the House of Representatives, the Senate, and finally a signature from President Joe Biden. Cornyn stressed that they need Democrat votes to make that happen.
Trump is also putting some pressure on Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who has said that the former president “is not wrong” and told reporters that he’s been speaking with Trump “frequently” about the matter.
Some believe Trump is only trying to stall the package to prevent a bipartisan victory under Biden’s administration right before the 2024 election.
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