Biden slams Trump’s ‘pathetic’ immigration criticism

President Biden on Thursday questioned whether former President Trump was referring to him after his rival called the immigration executive orders released by the White House this week “pathetic.”

Trump said this week that Biden’s “executive order will not stop the invasion and is weak and pathetic,” adding that he believes the order is just a window dressing ahead of a debate scheduled for later this month.

Asked by ABC’s David Muir to comment on Trump’s description of the executive order as “weak” and “pathetic”, Biden replied: “Is that how he describes himself? Weak and pathetic?”

“Look, we all know what happened,” the president said. “We came to an agreement that was much broader than this, much better, much more universally acceptable. And then he called Republicans and told them not to support it. That’s bad for me and good for Biden.”

Biden was referring to a bipartisan border bill negotiated in the Senate that was blocked twice by Republicans. As a deal came closer, Trump urged Republicans to block it and ensured the bill would remain a major issue until Election Day.

As a result, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) killed the border agreement in February, calling it “dead on arrival,” and President Trump told supporters in January that he didn’t mind being held responsible for the bill’s failure.

The deal included $20 billion for border security, gave the federal government temporary powers to expel migrants if the average daily crossing rate exceeded a certain number, ended “catch and release” measures, and increased standards for asylum applications.

Meanwhile, Biden’s order would turn away migrants who cross the southern border illegally and seek asylum at a time when mass encounters are commonplace.

Biden earlier this week criticized Trump for having no choice but to act to curb the influx of migrants at the border after the bill was defeated.

Muir interviewed Biden in France on Thursday morning ahead of the 80th anniversary event.^Number On the anniversary of the Normandy landings, Biden delivered a speech on Thursday in which he stressed the importance of alliances and offered a subtle pushback against President Trump’s “America First” policies.