DACA Dinner Drama: Deal or No Deal?
Conflicting statements were issued after a dinner between President Donald Trump and Congressional Democrat leadership.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had dinner Wednesday with President Trump to discuss several topics including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), border security, tax reform, infrastructure, and trade, but only two of those have overwhelmed the Thursday news cycle.
“We had a very productive meeting at the White House with the President,” Schumer and Pelosi said in a joint statement. “The discussion focused on DACA. We agreed to enshrine the protections of DACA into law quickly, and to work out a package of border security, excluding the wall, that’s acceptable to both sides.”
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders almost immediately refuted the Democrats statement.
“While DACA and border security were both discussed, excluding the wall was certainly not agreed to,” she tweeted.
While DACA and border security were both discussed, excluding the wall was certainly not agreed to.
— Kayleigh McEnany 45 Archived (@PressSec45) September 14, 2017
Schumer’s spokesman then clarified what Democrats believe came out of the meeting.
“The president made clear he would continue pushing the wall, just not as part of this agreement,” Matt House responded on Twitter.
The President made clear he would continue pushing the wall, just not as part of this agreement. https://t.co/KD1SdLAnIF
— mattwhouse (@mattwhouse) September 14, 2017
President Trump used his favorite communication medium to lay out his position on the DACA/Border security agreement.
“No deal was made last night on DACA. Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent. Would be subject to vote,” he tweeted.
No deal was made last night on DACA. Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent. Would be subject to vote.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017
It’s unclear if “massive border security” that Trump says would have to be part of the deal would include the wall that he has made a legacy agenda item. Democrats are steadfast in their demand that the wall not be built and the president says it’s already happening.
“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, which is already under construction in the form of new renovation of old and existing fences and walls, will continue to be built.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017
Shortly after his tweet, Trump told reporters that he and the Democratic leaders were close to a deal on DACA, but that a final agreement would hinge on “massive border security,” and that funding for a border wall will come “later” which angered pro-wall, pro-immigration reformists.
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) said if the deal doesn’t include the wall, the “Trump base is blown up, destroyed, irreparable and disillusioned beyond repair. No promise is credible.”
Conservative radio host, Fox News contributor, and reportedly upcoming Fox News Host Laura Ingraham used twitter to criticize the agreement.
“”BUILD THE WALL! BUILD THE WALL!”…or…maybe…not really,” she tweeted late Wednesday adding, “ONLY deal that MIGHT make sense for #DACA is RAISE Act + E-Verify + Wall. Dems’ “Border security” pledge is MEANINGLESS. @realDonaldTrump” in a tweet directed at the president.
"BUILD THE WALL! BUILD THE WALL!"…or…maybe…not really.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) September 14, 2017
ONLY deal that MIGHT make sense for #DACA is RAISE Act + E-Verify + Wall. Dems' "Border security" pledge is MEANINGLESS. @realDonaldTrump
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) September 14, 2017
Conservative firebrand Ann Coulter went further than just criticizing the agreement and went directly after Trump.
“If we’re not getting a wall, I’d prefer President Pence,” she tweeted Thursday morning and added, “At this point, who DOESN’T want Trump impeached?”
If we're not getting a wall, I'd prefer President Pence. https://t.co/g1mMhmm8ng
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 14, 2017
“Once more we see bad faith,” said Dan Stein, president of the restrictionist Federation for American Immigration Reform. “By demanding unconditional amnesty for DACA recipients as well as millions of other illegal aliens who did not even qualify for DACA – while being unwilling to accept anything other than funding for a few more border agents – the Democrats are demonstrating once more that they are happy to just use the DACA class as a political football for partisan advantage.”
Trump’s base took to social media to let him know how they feel about the back-and-forth on DACA:
@realDonaldTrump You PROMISED a WALL! No WALL, NO DACA!
— Michael Greer (@thetalentscout) September 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/Jarjarbug/status/908333358232477698
https://twitter.com/ScreedofStevie/status/908332258800660480
https://twitter.com/mmmoonie/status/908333683865559040
https://twitter.com/overtaxed23/status/908333658456588288
@realDonaldTrump @SpeakerRyan NO WALL, NO AMMESTY PERIOD!! No special law for certain people. ALL laws apply to ALL. #NoDACA
— Michael Greer (@thetalentscout) September 14, 2017
