Culture

Trump Insists ‘No Deal Was Made Last Night On DACA,’ And His Supporters Don’t Know What To Think


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The ongoing saga of President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) legislation protecting so-called “Dreamers” just got a little weirder thanks to Donald Trump’s latest tweet storm. On Thursday morning, he responded to previous reports indicating he and top Democrats Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi had reached a “deal” on the matter, which Attorney General Jeff Sessions had previously announced would be rescinded in March. “No deal was made last night on DACA,” Trump tweeted. “Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent. Would be subject to vote.”

To make matters even more confusing, the president also insisted his touted U.S.-Mexico border wall was “already under construction in the form of new renovation of old and existing fences and walls.” On Wednesday, reports detailing his meeting with Pelosi and Schumer indicated their “deal” would not include the wall, but Trump is now claiming it “will continue to be built.” Either way, what has most people confused — be they journalists, pundits or eager Trump train passengers — is the president’s apparent inability to stay on a clear message.

Despite disputing the deal and emphasizing the wall, Trump had a lot more to say about Dreamers. That is, the same man whose administration imposed a controversial travel ban against Muslim countries and backed a new merit-based immigration system started defending illegal immigrants. “Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military?” he asked rhetorically in another tweet. “They have been in our country for many years through no fault of their own — brought in by parents at young age.”


Needless to say, no one really knows what to make of Trump’s simultaneous back-and-forth on the matter — especially those who elected him for his tough anti-immigration stances.

https://twitter.com/seanhannity/status/908173001883049984

https://twitter.com/seanhannity/status/908174113457541120

https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/908276595110154247

https://twitter.com/jesseberney/status/908290521294139392


All things being equal, a few Twitter users from both sides were able to chuckle about it all.

https://twitter.com/charlescwcooke/status/908287615333552128

https://twitter.com/charlescwcooke/status/908288020603908096

UPDATE: Before leaving for Florida, Trump briefly addressed the press corp outside the White House. “We’re working on a plan for DACA. People want to see that happen,” he said. “We’re working on a plan. We’ll see how that works out.” Aside from confirming his previous tweets and, to varying degrees, the initial reports about his meeting with Pelosi and Schumer, Trump also claimed congressional Republican leaders Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan were “very much on board” with a deal.