WALL NUT
Trump veers back and forth on Dem Dreamer deal and money for barrier
A DEAL TO protect Dreamers and secure the border is in the works, President Trump said Thursday after earlier contradicting the Democratic leaders who announced the agreement, his own staffers and himself.
The President presented a plethora of opinions about planned protections for young immigrants brought to the countryas children as he waffled on the fate of his long-promised plans to erect a wall along the Mexican border.
“We’re working on a plan for DACA,” Trump said, using an acronym for the Obama-era program protecting 800,000 immigrants from deportation.
Hours earlier, Trump tweeted, “No deal was made last night on DA CA .”
Trump’s remarks simultaneously reinforced and refuted statements made by Democrats who claimed to have convinced him to strike a more left-leaning deal on immigration reform.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif., photos inset) noshed on Chinese food and worked with Trump at the White House Wednesday night. They said afterward they had all agreed on a legislative fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
The Democratic leaders said they agreed to an immigration package that would include increased border security but provide zero funds for Trump’s Mexico wall.
Insiders said a path to citizenship was explicitly mentioned during the meal deal.
In a joint statement Thursday, Schumer and Pelosi said “no final deal” was reached but Trump broadly agreed to DACA protections and negotiations on border security.
“We have reached an understanding on this issue,” Schumer said on the Senatefloor.
Republicans were a bit more cautious in their assessments.
There is “a deal to make a deal,” said John Cornyn (R-Tex.).
Trump also offered competing comments about one of his signature campaign pledges.
“The WALL, which is already under construction in the form of new renovation of old and existing fences and walls, will continue to be built,” he tweeted early Thursday.
“The wall will come later,” Trump said hours afterward.
While visiting flood-ravaged Naples, Fla., Trump again changed his tune, telling reporters, “If we don’t have the wall, we are doing nothing.”
All of the conflicting comments on DACA and funding for his wall infuriated many of the President’s staunchest supporters.
“At this point, who DOESN ’T want Trump impeached ?” conservative firebrand Ann Coulter tweeted.
Right-wing news outlet Breitbart, led by former White House strategist Stephen Bannon, used the headline: “Amnesty Don.”
“Trump base is blown up, destroyed, irreparable, and disillusioned beyond repair. No promise is credible,” Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) wrote.
The reaction from the right was a full 180-degree turn from last week, when Trump was applauded for ending DACA and telling Congress it had six months to come up with a permanent solution.
Republicans are “very, very happy with what we’re doing,” the President told reporters later aboard Air Force One.
Another early morning tweet angered Trump fans who’d embraced his campaign trail condemnation of immigrants.
“Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really! ..... ” he wrote.
Later he said he is not considering “citizenship” or “amnesty” but “looking at allowing people to stay here.” Even Trump aides appeared confused by all the back-and-forth.
White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters told reporters aboard Air Force One that while “the Trump administration will not be discussing amnesty,” the President could be open to an immigration deal that “could include legal citizenship over a period of time.”