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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said former President Donald Trump “does not have the final say” when it comes to how Republican lawmakers will approach a border security deal.
“He’s not making the decisions. I’m making the decisions for the House, that’s our responsibility,” Johnson said during an appearance Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I’ve been saying this for a lot longer than President Trump, I’ve been saying what the requirements are to fix the problem. I don’t care if they call the legislation HR 2 or not, what we’re saying is you have to stop the flow. “
Johnson’s comments come as a bipartisan group of senators move closer to a border deal that Johnson has previously said is “unsuccessful in the House,” according to an ABC News report, arguing the bill doesn’t do enough to secure the border.
CONGRESS CONTINUES LIKE A BREAKED RECORD IN EXPENDITURE, BORDERS AND FIGHTS OVER CLOSURE
Trump himself has also spoken out against the deal, saying that any Republican lawmaker who votes for it should be “ashamed of themselves.”
Representatives for Johnson and Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Last week, Johnson spoke on the House floor and criticized some of the details of the Senate legislation, including rumors that the president could be allowed to close the border after 5,000 people enter the country illegally.
“But apparently, we’re making up some kind of deal to allow the president to close the border after 5,000 people break the law. Why is it 5,000? If you add that up, that would be a million more illegals in our country.” each year before taking corrective action. This is crazy. We should ask ourselves what kind of law enforcement authority comes into action when there are 5,000 illegals a day. The number should be zero,” Johnson said, according to the ABC News report.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON GIVES HIS BLESSING TO THE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT: ‘PRO-GROWTH’
During his appearance on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Johnson argued that President Biden has the authority to act on the border without the need for legislation.
“The president has executive authority right now, while Congress conducts this negotiation and debate and discussion, the president could stop it,” Johnson argued. “He could close the border literally overnight.”
Several Republican lawmakers have expressed opposition to the deal in recent days, although Johnson told “Meet the Press” that the Senate has not offered him information on the details of the proposed legislation.
“I’ve had senators call me and give me advice and offer me things that are happening in the room, but we haven’t been part of that negotiation,” Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Biden has argued that he needs lawmakers to give him more authority to act at the border.
“I’ve done everything I can,” he told reporters last week, according to ABC News, adding that it was up to lawmakers to reach a deal and that he would “shut down” the border if it became overwhelmed and if he was given the authority to do it.
“Give me the Border Patrol. Give me the people, give me the people who will judge it. Give me the people who can stop this and make it work,” Biden said.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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