President Trump Makes An Unusual Move, Allows Press Pool To Watch Bipartisan Debate On Immigration Reform

Lawmakers just had a bipartisan meeting with President Trump on immigration reform and DACA. If you recall, the Trump administration recently released a list of demands for a DACA deal. Those demands include a wall, limits on “chain migration,” tweaking the rules on unaccompanied illegal minors, cracking down on visa overstays and withholding federal dollars from sanctuary cities.

People are torn. While there are calls for negotiation, many conservatives don’t want to strike ANY kind of deal on DACA. I get that it’s an issue that needs to be approached “with heart,” but after seeing the leaked memo from the Democrats, admitting that they only care about Dreamers for their own “electoral success,” I’m losing that “heart.” I’m not opposed to looking at it on a case by case basis, but the reality is, they’re NOT all the same. I’m adamantly opposed to handing out citizenship or giving Dreamers higher priority. NO.

ANYWAY. Back to the meeting. We know a lot of what was said, because Trump invited the press pool in for about an hour.

Extraordinary event at the WH: The president invited the press pool into his meeting with congressional leaders on DACA. We stayed in the meeting for nearly one hour. Lots of talk of bipartisanship but the president also made it clear the wall must be part of any agreement pic.twitter.com/pc3iH5N8Ec

— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) January 9, 2018

.@realDonaldTrump makes an extraordinary play. He allows the press pool to attend the ENTIRE immigration meeting with GOP and Dems so the public can see how the sausage is made..

— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) January 9, 2018

BREAKING: Brilliant move by POTUS – in the middle of the Wolff onslaught – he allows LIVE coverage of him working the table with Dems/GOP on immigration. Thoughtful, policy proficient and determined to get a deal.

— Martha MacCallum (@marthamaccallum) January 9, 2018

It was incredibly interesting. We got to see the debate in action. Trump obviously did this for a specific reason: He wants people to see that he IS trying to work with Democrats, and he wants everyone to stop talking about Michael Wolff’s stupid book.

Watch President Trump and congressional leaders debate immigration policy pic.twitter.com/QSnhJmhfnF

— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) January 9, 2018

He’s not caving on the wall, but he does sound a little squishy, and it’s worrisome.

.@SenTomCotton laughs when @POTUS says he can build wall for less than $18 billion requested. pic.twitter.com/sVyJ8G0IcY

— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) January 9, 2018

Trump expressed openness to a clean DACA bill, w/ comprehensive reform next. But McCarthy chimed in abt security.

Feinstein: “What about a clean DACA bill now with a commitment to do comprehensive next?”

Trump: “I would agree to that”

McCarthy: but we should have security too

— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) January 9, 2018

Uh…no. I don’t trust any “commitments” from Democrats.

Here’s a recap from one of my favs, Jamie Dupree.

On immigration negotiations, Speaker Ryan says GOP wants a DACA compromise, but has to be a "balanced package"

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

For the GOP, 'balanced' means a Dreamer deal plus 1) border wall $$ and 2) other immigration changes https://t.co/JHPDRKHjwX

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

The President says any bipartisan immigration deal in Congress should be a "bill of love"

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

“A bill of love.” Why does that make me automatically cringe?

Trump makes clear again that in DACA deal, he wants $$ for border wall, end to chain migration, end of visa lottery

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

Trump endorses the idea of a DACA deal first, then immediately going into work on comprehensive immigration reform

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

EEEKKKK. No. I don’t like that at all.

Rep Bob Goodlatte R-VA says GOP will introduce a bill tomorrow to deal with the DACA situation

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

Trump jokes that he might just get both parties in a room and lock the doors to force a deal on immigration

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

President Trump tells members of both parties, "I'll take the heat" on a comprehensive immigration reform bill

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

President Trump makes it clear that Congress must act: "You folks are going to have to come up with a solution"

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

If you aren't watching this extended discussion with Trump & lawmakers, you are missing out

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

The White House Pool reports that photo op lasted about 55 minutes – a very unique view

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 9, 2018

I mean, I’m glad he’s not completely caving the on the wall…

.@POTUS: "We need a certain portion of that border to have the wall. If you don't have it, you can never have security." pic.twitter.com/68avQ0RDTc

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 9, 2018

NEW: House Freedom Caucus Chair Meadows says a two step approach to immigration (DACA & then comprehensive) is a complete non starter

— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) January 9, 2018

Trump said he’ll ultimately sign WHATEVER they come up with. Which…no. Don’t do that.

Trump says he will sign ANY immigration agreement Congress gives him

"I'm not going to say 'oh gee I want this or I want that' I will be signing it" pic.twitter.com/M8NccfFYsx

— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) January 9, 2018

Many conservatives are NOT happy.

A "bill of love" equals amnesty and a betrayal of everybody who elected @realDonaldTrump as President of the United States. https://t.co/eFclycbZZY

— Stefan Molyneux (@StefanMolyneux) January 9, 2018

Trump endorses DACA "bill of love"? https://t.co/3hAR3aJDzH

— Mike Cernovich 🇺🇸 (@Cernovich) January 9, 2018

I hope he's joking. #NoDACA

— annieone (@annieone3) January 9, 2018

Ann Coulter is pissed.

Trump, flanked by Dems & open-borders GOPS, announces plan for 100% open-ended amnesty (per courts).

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) January 9, 2018

But don't worry! There will be "border security"! (Political euphemism for: You're not getting wall.) https://t.co/5paiyn2iZv

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) January 9, 2018

This DACA lovefest confirms a main thesis of Michael Wolff's book: When Bannon left. liberal Dems Jared, Ivanka, Cohn & Goldman Sachs took over.

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) January 9, 2018

After agreeing with DiFi that stand-alone DACA will come FIRST, Trump's muscle memory kicks in & he cites Israel, saying NOTHING BUT A WALL WILL WORK.

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) January 9, 2018

Nothing Michael Wolff could say about @realDonaldTrump has hurt him as much as the DACA lovefest right now.

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) January 9, 2018

Is @realDonaldTrump going to sell out his American base to illegal aliens who have zero loyalty to the USA? #PoliticalSuicide #EndDACA
cc: @WhiteHouse @Scavino45 @KellyannePolls pic.twitter.com/6NgDR6gnxp

— Adorable Deplorable (@OliMauritania) January 7, 2018

That wasn’t a negotiation, it was two sides completely talking past each other. But it made Trump look good.

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 9, 2018

#DACA will cause the downfall of all who legitimize it. The American people spoke clearly in 2016.

— John Salisbury (@5Strat) January 9, 2018

Yeah…I have questions. Maybe this is just “the art of the deal” in action. I don’t know, but it made Trump look good in the media’s eyes. But that’s the thing…I don’t care if MSM thinks he looks good.

What about you? Would you cave on DACA for a wall? Is Trump caving, or is this all strategic?