Sen. Thom Tillis (R.N.C.) argued that it is “immoral” for Republicans to reject a border deal meant to support former President Trump.
“I didn't come here to have the president as my boss or the candidate as my boss. I came here to pass good, solid policy,” Tillis said Thursday. NBC News first reported. “It's immoral to me to think that we're turning a blind eye because we think this is the key to President Trump's victory.”
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are outraged by President Trump's attempt to scrap the border agreement to deny President Biden's congressional victories. His recent comments calling on Republicans to oppose border deals that are not HR2 complicate things for the Senate.
Trump's allies in the Senate are trying to kill border policy, as Trump has secured two wins in Iowa and New Hampshire and is on track to become the Republican presidential nominee. That could jeopardize future aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia that is tied to such agreements.
White House and Biden administration officials joined negotiations in mid-December. Sen. Mike Rounds (R.S.D.) argued that the Biden administration likely senses the public's “enthusiasm” and wants to address border issues as Biden ramps up his reelection efforts. .
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) called the effort to kill the bill “horrible.” Mr. Romney said there are problems at the southern border, and anyone running for president should try to fix them now instead of fixing them later and taking credit for them.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) reportedly floated the idea of separating the border and parts of Ukraine at Biden's request, but McConnell said he would not be able to provide border aid and other foreign aid. Some say they support combining aid.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
