Speaker defends Trump immigration order amid GOP concerns
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, spoke on Capitol Hill in Washington during the committee’s Jan. 18 confirmation hearing for UN Ambassador-designate, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
House Speaker Paul Ryan Wis. left a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, today, following a GOP strategy session. Ryan gave a strong defense of President Donald Trump’s refugee and immigration ban to caucus members and said he backs the order, which has created chaos and confusion worldwide.
WASHINGTON >> House Speaker Paul Ryan today defended President Donald Trump’s divisive executive order on refugees and immigration, arguing that while the rollout was bumpy, the policy is consistent with Republican principles.
“The president has a responsibility to the security of this country,” Ryan told reporters. “What is happening is something that we support, which is, we need to pause. And we need to make sure the vetting standards are up to snuff so that we can guarantee the safety and security of our country. That is what this does.”
“I think it’s regrettable that there was some confusion on the rollout of this,” Ryan said, adding no one wanted to see legal permanent residents caught up in the immigration ban, which initially happened before the administration clarified that they should not be.
Even though GOP congressional leadership was frozen out of the drafting of the order, Ryan told rank-and-file Republicans in a closed-door meeting before speaking to reporters that he backed the decision to stop the U.S. refugee program and ban all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
The action triggered mass confusion and chaos worldwide, split families and set off protests at airports across the country.
In the aftermath, Ryan told the GOP that the “rollout was a little bumpy, been a few potholes in the road but the actual policy he agreed with,” Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., said.
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Ryan warned lawmakers to expect protests at their offices, Roe said, but reminded them that the policy is in line with legislation the House has strongly backed in the past.
Another lawmaker, Rep. Dennis Ross of Florida, said the speaker’s message was, “‘Look this shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody, this is what we all campaigned on … We’re looking at eight years of a legacy that we’re essentially undoing.’”
Said Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y.: “The speaker was very out in front today reminding our conference this is something we should be embracing.”
Ryan’s reassurances weren’t enough to quiet frustration from some members.
“Basically, I think the thrust of the executive order should have been a very positive move,” said Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y. “The way it was handled though put the Republicans on defense, and also caused great inconvenience to too many people. But the political question you ask, yeah, they’re losing political capital for no reason. It was a self-inflicted wound.”
Top congressional leaders of Trump’s party, including Ryan, were left to find out the same way the general public did: from news reports as Trump signed the order on Friday.
“I guess one of you guys probably told me about it. Thank you for that,” Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters Monday.
Then, as lawmakers struggled to gather details for constituents about the order, at least one prominent GOP senator was told that the State Department had been instructed not to communicate with Congress.
“There’s not a lot of answers as of today. In fact my staff was told the State Department as of today was ordered not to talk to Congress about this issue,” said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. “That cannot be a permanent position, we expect answers here fairly soon.”
Next followed the surprising news, first reported by Politico, that the administration’s repeated claims that Hill Republicans were involved in drafting the executive order apparently referred to staffers on the House Judiciary Committee who acted without the knowledge of GOP leadership.
Each new revelation set off alarm bells on Capitol Hill where Republicans, eager to give Trump the benefit of the doubt barely a week into his presidency, are confronting repeated bouts of chaos of the administration’s own making. The failure to consult with lawmakers ahead of time on the immigration executive order set the stage for high-profile Republicans to criticize the measure once it started attracting widespread controversy, and so they did, despite leadership remaining generally supportive.
And the administration’s decision to make a major foreign policy move with no notice to Congress raised questions about how well the Trump White House will work with Capitol Hill to push through a massive legislative agenda that includes repealing and replacing Barack Obama’s health care law, overhauling the tax code and building a border wall. Although many Republicans remained optimistic that the failures amounted to growing pains for the new administration, congressional relations under the Trump administration seemed to be off to a sour start.
“I think they understand, let me put it that way, that this was not handled in the most productive manner,” Corker said. “My guess is next time they attempt to do something that is far-reaching like this there’ll be a lot more communication.”
Associated Press writer Andrew Taylor contributed.
38 responses to “Speaker defends Trump immigration order amid GOP concerns”
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GOP working and agreeing with each other on this immigration issue. Outstanding.
Yup, working and communication well with the Donald:
Top congressional leaders of Trump’s party, including Ryan, were left to find out the same way the general public did.
“I guess one of you guys probably told me about it. Thank you for that,” Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters Monday. “I think they understand, let me put it that way, that this was not handled in the most productive manner. My guess is next time they attempt to do something that is far-reaching like this there’ll be a lot more communication.”
“There’s not a lot of answers as of today. In fact my staff was told the State Department as of today was ordered not to talk to Congress about this issue,” said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. “That cannot be a permanent position, we expect answers here fairly soon.”
As usual, the argument may be valid but the presentation was not proper. Trump needs to develop better communication skills.
He’s the President so he doesn’t think he needs to communicate with anyone except give orders. That’s his style and those who voted for him knew that. That’s as far as his communication skills will go.
Yes, exactly. Too many words are spoken when they need to be reviewed, critiqued and prepared prior to sending out into the public where misinterpretations can be avoided.
I understand he has a lot on his plate and has the desire to accomplish his goals, but, he could slow down a bit, communicate his intentions and prepare and implement these policies in a more approving fashion.
Bottom line: too many words taken out of context and misinterpreted by the Dems.
@gone, it wasn’t just democrats misinterpreting Trumps EO.
Trumpf empowered me. I feel very important when Ryan,and Congress gets the memo “simultaniously” as I did from Twitter King.
Congressional leaders do not trust Trump as trump is neither a Republican nor a conservative. He was always an independent candidate. But that said, Republicans are desperate to reduce taxes on the rich, weaken middle-class entitlements like Medicare and Social Security, hurt the poor and working class through weakening Medicaid, and ending public health insurance. They will try to go along with a tyrant in the White House in order to get their agenda signed. They may pay a heavy price at the polls in 2018 when the damage to many of Trump’s duped voters becomes clear.
Your ability to predict the future will continue at the same level as in the past. When Americans see that by doing things differently you get different results, they will overwhelming select to continue down the path that works.
Allie,
Did you not also predict that Trump will NEVER be president because of the type of person he is?
Please keep your pizza job, because you are terrible at prognostication.
Trump has been letting the world know for over a year that he would use extreme vetting. Anyone taken by surprise hasn’t been paying attention.
Agree.
I second.
The chaos resulted from the Democrats and media intentionally misinterpreting the program.
57% of Americans agree with President Trump on the temporary ban.
The complainers and protestors are the minority but the media makes it seem they are the 57%.
FYI: The conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports polled 1,000 likely voters re: the immigration ban and came up with the 57 percent favorable rating. Another poll had it at a 48-percent favorable rating. Just saying.
An average 52.5% Favorable…sounds good to me.
Does the airlines benefit from the cancellations? Stocks for them are going up.
change fees
We are at war with terrorism. Anyone ignorant or in denial of this fact will be anti Trump. He is doing what a leader should do and protect Americans from the anonymous enemy. When we return to peace and trust in humanity we can open our doors. The enemy wants to bring the war to our homeland and not theirs. That is the ultimate goal. Think like a terrorist so that you can realize the danger of an enemy who’s greatest power is stealth, anonymity, and opportunity. The greatest Trojan Horse will be our open hearts and doors.
The terrorist’s greatest power is the ability to recruit followers using propaganda. The Muslim ban is a gift to ISIS, reinforcing their narrative that there is a war between the US and Muslims and that the US is anti-Muslim. The end result is that disenchanted US citizens are more likely to believe that what ISIS is saying is true and more likely to commit terrorist attacks inside the country. How many of the attacks since 9/11 were “home grown” vs. from the outside? This order will likely make the US less safe, not more safe.
You remain in denial that we are at war with terrorism yet you confirm that the 9/11 attack did occur? The World Trade Center? Were these acts of War or just pranks for fun? All the preventative measures and security at the airports have nothing to do with another incident occurring? The debates are all logical but since no one has a crystal ball that can predict the future. I will lean toward increased security and cutting the lines of communication that would allow recruiting from within. Vigilance is needed much like watching were you walk alone a night, do we need more strangers that we do not trust in your immediate vicinity?
Where did I say that we are not at war with terrorist? What I said is that the Muslim ban would help terrorist gain recruits inside the country. That is exactly what ISIS wants and Trump is falling into their trap. ISIS is already using the ban and Trump’s statements in their recruiting materials.
Your own quote above, “The terrorist’s greatest power is the ability to recruit followers using propaganda. The Muslim ban is a gift to ISIS, reinforcing their narrative that there is a war between the US and Muslims and that the US is anti-Muslim.” How do you differentiate a Muslim and a terrorist Muslim as they are both Muslims? The terrorists ARE Muslims and claim Jihad. I do understand your message, do you understand mine?
It sounds like saying that all terrorist are Muslim and that all Muslims are terrorists? One does not equal the other and to say it does plays into the hands of both Muslim and Christian terrorists who are trying to perpetuate a religious war.
Stevie, How do you differentiate a Muslim and a Terrorist Muslim? If you can answer this then problem solved. No one is saying every Muslim is a Terrorist and you know it. Now you getting off topic with Christians.
You seem to ignore that ISIS is now struggling for its life and as the US increases its attacks to eradicate ISIS, ISIS will be increasing efforts to attack US. Those efforts have nothing to do with Trump’s ban. “Disenchanted US citizens” refers to who? The millions of people that Obama and the Democrats have ignored?
And how is ISIS increasing its efforts? By encouraging people already in the US to “self radicalize” and attack at home. The people susceptible to that message are those who feel alienated by the government and their neighbors who are making them feel that they the don’t belong here. Trump is the unwittingly helping terrorists by reinforcing their message.
Ok, let’s let them all in, then. Yeah, that will keep us safe. You’ve fallen for the Democrats’ spin.
I’m all for what you say. But can you admit Trump f-up his EO rollout? He doesn’t communicate with key members of Congress or allies in the international community. That is just dumb!
According to house speaker Paul Ryan, bumpy rollouts are consistent with Republican principles.
I can’t wait to see the bumpy rollout for their alternative to ACA.
That’s if they ever come w/ an alternative.
…potholes – don’t remind us.
People, please understand that we are at war and that one of the greatest battles is keeping this war out of our Homeland. The terrorists love it when Americans sympathize with anything that would allow them to infiltrate and be among us waiting in stealth to kill as many Americans that they can when and if the opportunity arises. They do not think like us. In their eyes this is a holy war in which they kill and die for with no regrets. Are they all terrorists? No. Will some of them be terrorists? Yes. What do we do about it? Nothing at all? Temporary ban on immigration till this war ceases?
Great post…and since we want to protect all Americans from needlessly dying we should also address banning guns…We know that guns have killed more Americans than these 7 countries have, so why not ban the guns temporarily for at least 90 days, its ONLY 90 days…these refugees are kept away from their families for ONLY 90 days, can’t Americans be separated from their guns for ONLY 90 days???? If safety for Americans is what we are after…#MAGA
Get your local politician to initiate a bill and go for it. See if it passes. Better yet, run for POTUS and see how many votes you get so you can initiate a bill by yourself.
After Ryan’s “pause”, explain to the citizens of the entire country what changes were made, and why.
I would not be surprised if in 2 or 3 years we have radical Islamic terrorist already in this country thanks to nerobama for letting in thousands of refugees which some could be terrorist, so if they do kill us on our soil they can blame trump for that even though nerobama let them in which would be his fault but the press would blame trump for the attacks on our soil.