Donald Trump is truly something else. On Thursday, the former made a little visit to Eagle Pass, Texas, where he was given a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border. In a video shared on social media by Alex Lorusso, executive producer of the conservative podcast The Benny Show, Trump was seen standing alongside Texas Governor Greg Abbott at a barbed-wire fence next to the Rio Grande, waving towards individuals on the other side.
During the visit to Shelby Park, Trump took the opportunity to discuss immigration policies, a topic central to his 2024 reelection campaign. In the video, at on point Trump is heard expressing his surprise at the positive reception he received, stating, “They like Trump. Can you believe it?” He then humorously acknowledged the popularity of Governor Abbott, patting him on the back and remarking, “They like the governor.”
Is Trump waving to the Mexicans? 🤣 pic.twitter.com/SX8noBh3Ps
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) February 29, 2024
Abbott, a Republican who has been vocal in his disagreements with the Biden administration over border security issues, welcomed Trump’s visit. The former president used the platform to criticize President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, attributing what he termed as “Biden migrant crime” and an “invasion” to the current administration.
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While Trump was engaging with the border community in Eagle Pass, President Biden was meeting with federal Border Patrol officials in Brownsville, Texas, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan support for his border bill. Biden, who was more than 300 miles away from Trump’s location, urged Republicans to back his proposed security measures and called for unity in addressing border challenges.
In a notable moment, Biden extended an invitation to Trump to collaborate on border security, stating, “We can do it together.” The contrasting approaches of the two former presidents underscore the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policies and border security in the United States.
“You know and I know it’s the toughest, most efficient, most effective border security bill this country’s ever seen,” Biden said. “So instead of playing politics with the issue, why don’t we just get together and get it done?” He added, “We need to act,” Biden said, adding that Republicans in Congress needed to “show a little spine.”
Unfortunately, Trump’s national press secretary hit back at Biden’s appeal. Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, “Instead of shifting the blame on everyone but himself, Joe Biden should take responsibility for the border crisis, deaths, and destruction that his policies have caused, say Laken Riley’s name, and use his executive power to shut the border down today.”
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the interactions between key figures like Trump and Biden at the border serve as a reflection of the differing perspectives and strategies shaping the nation’s approach to immigration.