President Donald Trump fired back Tuesday
night at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for offering, then
rescinding, a deal to support border wall funding in return for an
immigration package that protects illegal immigrants brought to the U.S.
as children.
"Cryin’ Chuck Schumer fully understands, especially after his
humiliating defeat, that if there is no Wall, there is no DACA," the
president tweeted around 11 p.m. EST. "We must have safety and security,
together with a strong Military, for our great people!"
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Cryin’ Chuck Schumer fully understands, especially after his humiliating
defeat, that if there is no Wall, there is no DACA. We must have safety
and security, together with a strong Military, for our great people!
Earlier Tuesday evening, White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley
slammed Schumer during an appearance on Fox News' "Outnumbered
Overtime."
Hogan Gidley, White House deputy press secretary, talks border security,
immigration reform and Special Counsel Robert Mueller's
investigation.Video
White House: Many ways to make Mexico pay for the wall
“He comes over here with a phony plan and a fake promise,” Gidley said,
referring to Schumer, D-N.Y.
A Schumer aide confirmed to Fox News on Tuesday that the leader withdrew
his offer of a boost in funding for the president’s proposed border
wall. It was initially made during negotiations over the government
spending bill with the president last Friday, the aide said.
Schumer’s office says he pulled the wall offer on Sunday.
But Gidley said they didn’t take the offer seriously, saying the
Democrat offered less than one-tenth of what was needed to secure the
border in his “bogus negotiation.” The administration wants $18 billion
for a border wall.
“You can't rescind money you never really offered in the first place,”
he said.
After a three-day government shutdown, Democrats agreed to re-open the
government Monday after Republicans assured them the Senate would soon
consider legislation that would protect the so-called Dreamers.
During Tuesday’s press briefing at the White House, press secretary
Sarah Sanders said the president opposes an immigration proposal
brokered by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jeff
Flake of Arizona and Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.
“In a bipartisan meeting here at the White House two weeks ago we
outlined a path forward on four issues: serious border security, an end
to chain migration, the cancellation of the outdated and unsafe visa
lottery and a permanent solution to DACA,” Sanders said. “Unfortunately,
the Flake-Graham-Durbin agreement does not meet these bench marks.”
Fox News’ Mike Emanuel and Joseph Weber contributed to this report. |
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