On Monday’s broadcast of FOX News Channel’s “The Story,” White House National Security and Communications Adviser John Kirby said he never spoke to President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris during their time in office. in response to former Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz’s claim that there was no such thing. Biden, who works for the Department of Homeland Security and the Border Patrol, said he visited the border for the second time last week and requested the agency from August 2021 to the end of June 2023.
host Martha McCallum asked. [relevant exchange begins around 1:25] “You say he’s ‘aggressive,’ but still,” according to his former Border Patrol chief who spoke out about60 minutes” Raul Ortiz said he never spoke to the president during his time as border chief and vice president, overseeing 21,000 employees. How is that possible, John, given the fact that this is the biggest issue for voters in every primary state we’ve covered so far? ”
Kirby replied: “Martha, you saw the president in Brownsville last week. This is his second time at the border. He obviously has a close relationship with Secretary Mayorkas and everyone at DHS. He has a close relationship with Border Patrol agents in Brownsville. I had a chance to meet him in person. He knows that this is an important issue for the American people. It’s important to him. And frankly, Martha, that’s why I think it’s a big deal, not just on border security, but on immigration policy. It was so important for the Senate to pass a bipartisan bill that included changes, and now it’s stalled because the House won’t take it up. The president negotiated all of these things, We’re going to compromise, we’re going to talk and we’re going to move forward. That’s why he asked for a supplement on national security.”
Mr. McCallum then interjected and asked: “John, why has he never talked about it – and we did some reporting on this earlier today – not only former Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz, but also current Border Patrol Commissioner Raul Ortiz? I haven’t even talked to the Secretary, Secretary Raul Ortiz.”I did meet with Owens, as you point out, in Brownsville. But as far as we could tell, they had never spoken before. Does such a thing ever happen? “
Kirby replied: “The president has a contract with DHS. He has leadership there –”
McCollum then interjected and asked, “But why not the Border Patrol?”
Kirby said, “He’s engaged to the Border Patrol, Martha. He was just down the street from Brownsville, meeting and talking to those people and hearing about the situation on the ground.”
McCollum said, “But he has never met with the former director or the current director. The current director, he just met. He’s been president for three years, and he just met the other day.”
“He is once again on the ground speaking with everyone at DHS, including the Border Patrol in Brownsville, and hearing their concerns directly,” Kirby responded.
McCollum then said, “But just to check that record, you’re saying, they hadn’t met before Thursday, right? Did they talk?”
Kirby responded, “I don’t have a daily calendar of the president that shows exactly who he met with.” But the idea that he somehow left the Border Patrol is belied by the facts. ”
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