Panelists on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" bashed Republican lawmakers for bowing to Donald Trump's "cynical" effort to sink a border security bill to help his chances for re-election.
The former president has long made border security a top political priority, but Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) privately cast doubt on a bipartisan compromise to tighten immigration laws because Trump opposed the measure.
"Even for Donald Trump, this is shamelessly cynical," said contributor Jonathan Lemire, the White House bureau chief of Politico. "Just a naked appeal to keep the issue alive politically rather than doing something for the country. Mitch McConnell's comments that caused a stir, seemed like he was giving in on the deal, his team pushed back on that. McConnell held another meeting with colleagues [Thursday] and made it clear, he does still want this. He wants the Ukraine deal in exchange border security. They are saying he was simply acknowledging that Trump was playing a role, and being honest about the quandary he and his party were in, but it was not McConnell himself shifting positions, which was a relief to some Republicans that learned this late [Thursday] night."
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That sets up a power play between McConnell and Trump, he said.
"The Senate minority leader, though power clearly diminished in recent months, wants to push it forward," Lemire said. "The question is if he can get votes. Others said they want it to happen, and they are putting the responsibility to country over party, but we know the House is standing in opposition, a large portion of it. Will there be enough senators who make the decision to defy McConnell in favor of Trump?"
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