Former President Donald Trump on Monday railed at the bipartisan $118 billion border bill — asserting the nation has "the right" and should "close the border now."
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump ranted that "only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill, which only gives Shutdown Authority after 5000 Encounters a day."
"We already have the right to CLOSE THE BORDER NOW, which must be done," he asserted.
Trump called the bill "a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party."
"It takes the HORRIBLE JOB the Democrats have done on Immigration and the Border, absolves them, and puts it all squarely on the shoulders of Republicans," his post asserted.
"Don't be STUPID!!! We need a separate Border and Immigration Bill," Trump wrote. "It should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form! The Democrats broke Immigration and the Border. They should fix it."
He added: "The ridiculous 'Border' Bill is nothing more than a highly sophisticated trap for Republicans to assume the blame on what the Radical Left Democrats have done to our Border, just in time for our most important EVER Election. Don’t fall for it!!!"
The bipartisan agreement already met fierce opposition from hard-line conservatives and Trump allies after its unveiling Sunday.
The $118 billion bill includes the $20 billion border component, along with funding for Israel, Ukraine, and other foreign policy priorities.
"This bill reads like it was drafted in Kiev," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said on Sunday, The Hill reported. "It's a massive issue that a border bill for America is more about funding the wars of foreign countries rather than our own interests and people.
"Any Republican who votes for this will betray the American people."
Meanwhile, GOP White House contender Nikki Haley on Sunday blasted Trump for trying to delay the deal.
"Donald Trump, the last thing he needs to do is tell them to wait to pass the border deal until the election. We can't wait one more day," Haley said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Fran Beyer ✉
Fran Beyer is a writer with Newsmax and covers national politics.
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