Posted on 06/16/2018 5:36:30 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Friday morning Donald Trump said in an interview on Fox News that he would not support a "moderate" GOP immigration bill that would allow most DREAMers to stay in the U.S. and reduce the number of children separated from their parents at the border. The conservative alternative was heavy on border security and enforcement.
But later, the White House walked back that rejection, saying the president was "confused" and would sign the bill.
The chaos only added to GOP worries about the issue of immigration, which has split the party in two in the House.
Earlier this week, House Speaker Paul Ryan had told colleagues that Trump supported the middle-ground package. White House aide Stephen Miller, an immigration hard-liner who has been accused of trying to sabotage immigration deals in the past, told conservative lawmakers at a closed-door meeting that the president backed that plan.
But a senior White House official later said Trump had misspoken and believed his Fox interviewer was asking about an effort by GOP moderates — abandoned for now — that would have forced votes on a handful of bills and likely led to House passage of liberal-leaning versions party leaders oppose. The official, who was not authorized to discuss internal conversations by name, spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The interviewer had specifically asked whether Trump supported a conservative bill penned by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., or "something more moderate," and asked whether he'd sign "either one."
The White House later put out a statement formally endorsing the measure.
"The President fully supports both the Goodlatte bill and the House leadership bill," said White House spokesman Raj Shah, adding that Trump would sign "either the Goodlatte or the leadership bills."
Trump also weighed in by tweet, writing that any bill "MUST HAVE" provisions financing his proposed wall with Mexico and curbing the existing legal immigration system. Those items are included in the middle-ground package.
"Go for it! WIN!" Trump wrote in a tweet that stopped short of explicitly endorsing the compromise plan.
The compromise bill may need some Democratic votes to pass, and Nancy Pelosi has signaled the leadership's opposition. Besides, Democrats are in no mood to do any favors for Republicans, even if the compromise measure has some protection for DREAMers and addresses the issue of separating children at the border.
So Speaker Paul Ryan is going to have to find a way to entice most House conservatives to vote for the "moderate" alternative. It's an uphill battle, and if Trump truly wants the legislation, he and the House leadership are going to have to fight for it.
Like HELL!!!!
I still don’t believe it for a second.
Doesn’t look like anything new here from yesterday.
Trump plans to meet with House Republicans Tuesday night - before that he will get a BIG EARFUL from conservatives if he supports ANYTHING short of his ‘final’ compromise offer earlier this year.
The Donald can always change his mind.
Is the 25 billion in the bill for the wall? If not,then we really have a problem.
No bill that grants amnesty is acceptable. Time to draw the line and hold that line. This nation does not need any more illegals. They are only trouble and a very expensive trouble. The legal Americans and legal immigrants deserve that. Illegals take your families and go where came from.
Fake crap again....he just made it very clear last Friday that he holds firm on the wall, lottery and the other slimey tricks with the law that Obama and his commie buddies enacted.
If you have any doubts tune in this Wednesday when he addresses an overflow crowd in Diluth, Minnesota.
One by one he is ticking off every election promise from his list. There has NEVER been a President like the Donald. Read my lips, it wasn’t either of the Bushes. lol
Raj strikes again.
Build the promised wall. Deport all illegals. Dramatically cut the number of legal immigrants. Stop the visa abuse. Remove immigrants from welfare/safety net programs.
Send the DACA gang home. We can always send for them later if needed.
DONAMNESTY!
Even if there's a Trillion in the bill we have a problem if there's an amnesty.
People need to realize that the country has been overrun by Mexicans, and IMO the whole Southwest is lost.
Only mass deportations like Eisenhower's Operation Wetback I & II might work, just maybe.
Fake news
If he signs an amnesty without the wall, ending DACA, chain migration, anchor babies, and reducing legal immigration he will not be re-elected.
“Is the 25 billion in the bill for the wall? If not,then we really have a problem.”
Only its paid in Installments = 1st year funding, 2nd year much less funding, 2021 No Funding
So much for those 4 Pillars .
So trump is pushing the Ryan K Street Amnesty Disaster Now ?
Ryan Bill was written go flood the country millions and H1 Visas .
Ryan hates the base and so does K street . They want to replace us ! Why is the being supported ?
Moderate Amnesty?
Where’s our good friend to remind us that it isn’t Fake News?
Any ideas on what is going on here ?
This is a terrible situation.
Quite the drama queen.
I’m sure Trump “would” sign them. Get it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.