Trump’s Opposition Threatens Bipartisan Border Deal and Republican Legislative Achievement
In a shocking turn of events, Donald Trump’s opposition to a bipartisan deal over the southern border has put Senate Republicans in a bind, potentially derailing a key legislative achievement and previewing the challenges they may face with Trump as their likely presidential nominee. Trump’s desire to campaign on the border issue and prevent President Joe Biden from scoring a victory has led him to lobby Republicans against the compromise being negotiated in the Senate.
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been an advocate for a border-Ukraine package, acknowledged the serious dilemma caused by Trump’s animosity towards the deal. Republicans have been warning for weeks that Trump’s opposition could blow up the proposal, but McConnell’s admission highlights the urgency of the situation. The prospect of a scuttled deal has sparked tensions and confusion among Senate Republicans as they try to figure out how to proceed.
The fact that Trump doesn’t want a solution to the border problem so he can blame Biden is deemed “appalling” by GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, a vocal critic of Trump. Romney emphasizes the need to address the crisis at the border and highlights the suffering of the American people. He criticizes Trump for wanting to take credit for solving the problem later instead of working towards a resolution.
Other Republican senators, such as Todd Young of Indiana, express their frustration at any attempts to disrupt the negotiations. Young hopes that conservatives like himself will be given the opportunity to review the proposed deal and support its passage. He urges his colleagues not to let campaign purposes interfere with finding a solution.
The influence Trump wields over Republicans is reminiscent of his time in office when he could derail legislative action with a single tweet or controversy. Now that he is marching towards the presidential nomination, Republicans are preparing for life with him as their nominee once again. One anonymous GOP senator reveals that without Trump’s interference, the border deal would have garnered overwhelming support within the conference.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina acknowledges that convincing Trump not to kill the deal would require courage from members of the Senate. Nevertheless, Tillis argues that passing a border security deal would ultimately be beneficial for Trump in managing the border crisis.
McConnell downplays Trump’s opposition, stating that it’s nothing new and that they are still working towards an outcome. However, the status of the border talks remains unclear. A senior leadership aide to House GOP Leader Steve Scalise has declared the deal dead on arrival in the House, indicating that Senate Republicans may be less inclined to back it knowing it won’t advance further. Frustration and confusion persist within the Senate GOP as they grapple with whether to proceed or consider alternative plans.
Senators like Todd Young urge Republican leadership to consult with the conference before making any impulsive decisions. They emphasize the need to take into account the political realities and seek consensus among their colleagues. However, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin criticizes McConnell for bringing up the border issue during a meeting focused on Ukraine, blaming him for the failed negotiation.
Despite the challenges posed by Trump’s opposition, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska emphasizes the significance of the moment for both the border and Ukraine. She urges her fellow senators to put aside their own politics and prioritize the country’s security and commitments to allies.
This is not the first time Trump has killed or attempted to kill a bipartisan immigration deal. In 2018, bipartisan talks over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program fell short of getting enough votes in the Senate. The current border negotiations face a similar dilemma as Republicans must decide whether they want to solve the problem or succumb to chaos at the border, as highlighted by Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Senate Republicans can overcome Trump’s opposition and salvage the bipartisan border deal. The stakes are high, and the outcome will have far-reaching implications for both the party and the country.
