Joe Scarborough warned Republicans that President Donald Trump’s decision to put Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents inside airports across the country will likely backfire in November’s midterm election.
On Tuesday’s “Morning Joe,” Scarborough said the president’s attempted solution to ease the long security lines at airports — a consequence of callouts from TSA agents who are working without pay as a result of the partial government shutdown — will only make matters worse for his party.
“Remember the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup? ‘Two great tastes. They go great together.’” Scarborough said. “This is two horrible political stories that are bound together.”
TSA agents missed their first full paycheck earlier this month after Congress let most of the Homeland Security Department’s funding lapse on Feb. 14, as Democrats and Republicans continue to clash over Trump’s immigration crackdown. As a result, thousands of workers have called out from airports across the country.
“You have long lines at airports, you then have ICE — which is the personification of the Republican Party’s meltdown on mass deportation and immigration. And I can’t even believe it, Republicans are putting those two stories together in a visual, where you can just take a picture of chaos in America’s airports and ICE,” Scarborough said.
While the MS NOW host acknowledged that rank-and-file Republicans are likely “very aware” of the political risks that come along with the president’s decision, he said Trump “does not seem to care.” “Republicans know how horrible this is for Republicans who are running this fall,” Scarborough explained. “The point is, all the Republicans in the Senate (or almost all of them) want TSA agents paid. They don’t want ICE in the airports if they’re running for office this fall. It is a terrible political move for them.” “This week, I think Donald Trump has got to get a bill,” he predicted. “I’d be very surprised if he vetoes it, but if he does, he’s not hurting the Democrats. He’s hurting Americans, and he’s hurting Republicans that have to run.” You can watch Scarborough’s full analysis in the clip at the top of the page.
Allison Detzel is an editor/producer for MS NOW. She was previously a segment producer for “AYMAN” and “The Mehdi Hasan Show.”
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