Critics of President Donald Trump jumped on comments made by Sen. Lindsey Graham earlier today when he called all of the talk from the White House on a border wall really just a “metaphor” for border security:
It’s no longer a wall. Or a fence. Or a barrier. Now, says Lindsey Graham, “The Wall is a metaphor for border security.” Cool. But we won’t pay for a metaphor, either.
— Bill Shapiro (@Bill_Shapiro) December 30, 2018
Video here:
HAPPENING NOW: Sen. Lindsey Graham tells reporters after meeting with President Trump that the president "is firm in his commitment to make sure we get money for border security" pic.twitter.com/hgGdZ1wteC
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 30, 2018
Um, when exactly did this become just a metaphor? Way to give in to the critics, Lindsey:
Does @AnnCoulter think the wall is a metaphor? https://t.co/Ft3thKEXNf
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) December 30, 2018
And Mexico's paying for it is a metaphor for sucker. https://t.co/OSXWN8JpYx
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) December 30, 2018
“Build the steel slats which are really just a metaphor for border security! And Mexico is going to indirectly pay for it via increased tax revenues from a new trade agreement which is not yet ratified, but in the meantime American taxpayers have to front the money! “
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) December 30, 2018
You’re shutting down the government over a…metaphor? https://t.co/K0TZnaMXEI
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) December 30, 2018
Does this mean that Lindsey Graham and other Republicans will vote for a bill that provides money for drones and tell themselves that they’re voting for a “wall”? https://t.co/BjYzvKtUDi
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) December 30, 2018
Former Trump supporters noted the discrepancy as well:
So border-security funds in exchange for some sort of amnesty? Hell we couldve gotten that w Jeb or any Republican https://t.co/t7lR97hFsq
— A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) December 30, 2018
Ann Coulter, earlier in the day, gave the president an “F” for “follow-through” on his immigration agenda:
Wait until they find out you haven't built one inch of the wall, deported "Dreamers," or signed that executive order on anchor babies.
Tweeting level: A+
Follow-through: F https://t.co/QWGDgVZJJk— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) December 30, 2018
After Graham’s comments, however, the president was back tweeting about a wall, this time using the security around the Obama’s DC as an example of a wall that works:
President and Mrs. Obama built/has a ten foot Wall around their D.C. mansion/compound. I agree, totally necessary for their safety and security. The U.S. needs the same thing, slightly larger version!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2018
But Sen. Graham was not the only Republican throwing cold water on the wall today.
Outgoing chief of staff John Kelly, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, said that the White House gave up on a concrete wall early in the administration:
“To be honest, it’s not a wall.” EXCLUSIVE: John Kelly’s exit interview as Trump’s embattled White House Chief of Staff – Los Angeles Times https://t.co/bkxak7Djma @latimes
— Molly O'Toole (@mollymotoole) December 30, 2018
If true, Kelly also does the president no favors here:
Kelly today: "We left a solid concrete wall early on in the administration, when we asked people what they needed and where they needed it.”
March, 2018: Trump tours concrete prototypes and since then 94 times has claimed he's building a wall.
?— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) December 30, 2018
And Kellyanne Conway said Sunday morning that Dems shouldn’t be so focused on a “wall” and they’re “being very disingenuous”:
.@KellyannePolls: on Fox says there's “a silly semantic argument” in which 'Wall' has become a “four-letter word.” Says those focused on 'wall' are "Being very disingenuous"
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) December 30, 2018
Eek. Sound like we’re never getting that wall at this rate.
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Related:
‘Joe Biden is so screwed in this primary’! Beto O’Rourke’s anti-border wall video has captivated the media https://t.co/EmruDtFEe7
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 29, 2018
Chris Cillizza names his favorite childhood pastime and it's like watching someone walk into a wall https://t.co/0hRA4w3hfx
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 29, 2018
Shut THIS down, Chuck: Charlie Kirk drops a reality bomb on libs who don’t want walls or guns https://t.co/QcwZVeFd2i pic.twitter.com/7KgkwJCcVX
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 28, 2018
When failed Senate candidates start tweeting sappy anti-border wall videos, you know what that means https://t.co/BfE4Y1WMqm pic.twitter.com/cbzejh5I4q
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 28, 2018
Yes we can build a wall: Gonna be difficult for Democrats to argue with THIS guy's tweet, which Trump 'totally agrees' with https://t.co/SFOWkR3fHc pic.twitter.com/FEtMQfa0FZ
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 28, 2018