,
14 tweets,
3 min read
Read on Twitter
Trump: "I am very proud to announce today that we have reached a deal to end the shutdown and reopen the federal government."
Trump immediately ad-libs a second sentence: "As everyone knows, I have a very powerful alternative. But I didn't want to use it at this time. Hopefully it will be unnecessary."
Trump to federal workers: “Not only did you not complain, but in many cases you encouraged me to keep going” because you care so much about border security. (Lots of them complained...)
Trump says it's a three-week deal. He says he's heard Dems and Republicans are willing to put partisanship aside - "I think." He claims Dems have "finally and fully acknowledged" that barriers and walls will be "an important part of the solution."
Trump says he trusts the parties will use this reprieve to work in good faith on behalf of "our whole, beautiful, wonderful, nation." I don't think all of those adjectives were in the text.
Trump is now re-touting the value of border walls, saying they "should not be controversial." He explains that these barriers would be made of STEEL and would be see-through, which, as usual, he says is very important. "We do not need 2,000 miles of concrete walls."
This is so far the closest Trump has come to re-threatening an emergency declaration. There's been no "or else" yet.
Trump is telling his "four women" "duct tape" "backs or cars or trucks" "desert areas" human trafficking tale again. Again, human trafficking experts tells me they've never heard of this happening; just isn't how it usually works. thestar.com/news/world/us/…
Trump's speech referred to "homicides." He said the word, then added, "Or, as you would call them, violent, vicious killings."
This has turned into a regular Trump immigration speech, filled with talk of murder and disease and duct tape. He hasn't attempted to offer an extended explanation for why he rejected this kind of deal for weeks and is now accepting it.
Amazing
Trump: "We have the lowest employment and the best employment numbers than we've ever had." Sometimes his "and" method of correcting himself does not work.
The threat: "Really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or steel barrier. If we don't get a fair deal from Congress, the govt will either shut down on Feb. 15, again, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution...to address this emergency."
Trump walked out after making this threat, didn't take questions. Perhaps notably and perhaps not, he didn't quite make the threat contingent on getting wall funding -- just said walls are important and that he needs a "fair deal."
