White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has come under fire after using her professional Twitter account to characterize Democrats as a "liberal mob" and make blanket statements on immigration policy.
The Democrats’ open border policy is an open invitation to the caravan. Thank God we have a President fighting for… https://t.co/HWHAiDIOJA— Stephanie Grisham (@Stephanie Grisham) 1540343863.0
Sanders's comments come amid reports that a caravan of thousands of refugees is migrating through Central America to the United States. The Trump administration has not settled on a plan of action if the migrants make it to our nation's southern border.
Sanders was immediately criticized for her comments.
@PressSec Honestly, I would trade you, this administration, the Republican Congress, and 7000 other despicable repu… https://t.co/MVwFTAkrdN— Sam Donovan (@Sam Donovan) 1540356004.0
@PressSec So I'm trying to understand why you are lying? I though you were Christian? Or am I mistaken? I know of… https://t.co/e2chi7kULN— Theresa Ikstrums (@Theresa Ikstrums) 1540351587.0
@PressSec So why can't we have a press secretary who uses her platform to tell the truth instead of Hatch Act viola… https://t.co/BAvuvstQw6— Mary L. Doyle (@Mary L. Doyle) 1540376138.0
@PressSec There literally are no democrats who advocate an open border, let alone any policy that promotes it. This… https://t.co/PkxLPtfTyY— David Schwimmer's Dad's Nuts 🧢 (@David Schwimmer's Dad's Nuts 🧢) 1540381395.0
Another individual pointed out that concerns about the caravan are overblown; the caravan is crossing into Mexico, not the United States. The chances that migrants make it to the U.S. border are low to begin with––it would take about two more months of travel (if not more) before they even arrive.
@PressSec I know geography is hard, but they're crossing into Mexico, not the US. The US is another 2+ month trip,… https://t.co/IdW9ZEntuK— Lindsey (@Lindsey) 1540387475.0
Trump administration officials who spoke to the press on condition of anonymity say they've been "evaluating the options in closed-door meetings that have gotten increasingly heated in the past week," including one which turned into a "shouting match," according to CNBC.
Sanders herself downplayed reports that tensions had risen among senior members of the administration and shifted blame to the Democrats, saying: "While we are passionate about solving the issue of illegal immigration, we are not angry at one another. However, we are furious at the failure of Congressional Democrats to help us address this growing crisis."
In recent days, President Donald Trump has made increasingly fervent calls to ramp up border security.
"We are a great Sovereign Nation," he wrote.
For those who want and advocate for illegal immigration, just take a good look at what has happened to Europe over… https://t.co/7E2YNgkXR0— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1540381949.0
We are a great Sovereign Nation. We have Strong Borders and will never accept people coming into our Country illegally!— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1540382201.0
Earlier, he referred to the caravan––which is still 1,000 miles away––as a national emergency.
Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of… https://t.co/aRmOl6HFMV— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1540211860.0
He also blamed Democrats...
Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our Country illegally, think… https://t.co/OdHQF1hinv— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1540212571.0
...while blaming Central American countries for not containing the problem.
"We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them," he wrote.
Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and c… https://t.co/8jXIdewhIv— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1540213068.0
It was not immediately clear what payments the president referred to, and it is unlikely he can strip foreign countries of foreign aid without Congressional approval.