Trump Cuts Second Deal with Dems Over DACA – Faces Republican Backlash

President Donald Trump has made significant progress towards a deal with Democrats that would protect hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants who brought here as children and are known as “DREAMers,” from the threat of deportation. The deal to fix DACA, would not immediately involve funding for Trump’s key campaign promise of a southern border wall.
The bombshell deal, Trump’s second such deal with Democrats this week, was first announced in a statement Wednesday night by Democratic congressional leaders, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The statement read, “We had a very productive meeting at the White House with the President. The discussion focused on DACA,” it continued, “We agreed to enshrine the protections of DACA into law quickly, and to work out a package of border security, excluding the wall, that’s acceptable to both sides.”
The deal was brokered at a dinner Wednesday night between the Democratic leaders and Trump. Notably, neither House Speaker Paul Ryan, nor Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell were present for the dinner.
Trump faced near immediate backlash from conservative politicians and media figures who considered the immigration about-face a retraction on a key campaign promise.
Brushing back criticism, the following morning Trump took to Twitter to insist that “no deal was made” on DACA. Through Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders the White House also pushed back on the idea that Trump was dropping support for a border wall, a key campaign promise.
Schumer and Pelosi responded by issuing a statement clarifying the matter, claiming that “while both sides agreed that the wall would not be any part of this agreement, the President made clear he intends to pursue it at a later time, and we made clear we would continue to oppose it.” Matt House, Schumer’s communications director, added that the “President made clear he would continue pushing the wall, just not as part of this agreement.”
The Reaction:
When news of the deal was first announced by Schumer and Pelosi, both major subjects of Republican ire, it sent shockwaves through Trump’s conservative base, for whom Trump’s hard-line stance on immigration was a core reason for their support. The initial reaction of this block was both that of shock and irritation. Conservative politicians and media figures took their frustrations to Twitter, airing their grievances directly to millions of Americans.
Republican Representative Steve King of Iowa tweeted, “Unbelievable! Amnesty is a pardon for immigration law breakers coupled with the reward of the objective of their crime.” Chuck Grassley, the Republican Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, tweeted at Trump asking to be briefed on the news and claiming that the President had “undercut” a previous bipartisan agreement from the Judiciary Committee that he chairs.
@realDonaldTrump Morn news says u made deal w Schumer on DACA/hv ur staff brief me/ I know u undercut JudiCimm effort 4 biparty agreement
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 14, 2017
The reaction also came from conservative media outlets and media surrogates. Staunch Trump ally and media figure Sean Hannity added, “Weak R’s have betrayed voters. @POTUS needs to stay the course and keep his promises or it’s over! Pelosi and Schumer can never be trusted.”
And Breitbart News, run by Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, headlined news of the alleged deal Wednesday with “Amnesty Don.” According to the Washington Post’s Robert Costa, a Brietbart editor told him by phone that the deal was a “betrayal of the highest order. Donald Trump should be ashamed of himself.”
“This a betrayal of the highest order. Donald Trump should be ashamed of himself." A Breitbart editor tonight, via phone
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 14, 2017
Finally, Ann Coulter, former Trump surrogate and author of “In Trump We Trust,” had perhaps the most intense reaction, asking, “at this point, who DOESN’T want Trump impeached?”
At this point, who DOESN'T want Trump impeached? https://t.co/g1mMhmm8ng
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 14, 2017
Select Conservative Response:

Select reactions from conservative figures
And Breitbart News, run by Trump’s recently fired former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, headlined news of the alleged deal by calling Trump, “Amnesty Don.”
And Breitbart News, run by Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, headlined news of the alleged deal Wednesday with “Amnesty Don.” According to the Washington Post’s Robert Costa, a Brietbart editor told him by phone that the deal was a “betrayal of the highest order. Donald Trump should be ashamed of himself.”
In response to the backlash, Trump tweeted in defense of his decision, “Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!”
Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017
To which NBC’s Peter Alexander responded by pointing out the President’s past statements, in which he had stated that “they have to go.”
Yes, you did.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) September 14, 2017
"They have to go." - Trump on DREAMers, Aug 2015 https://t.co/Uj1MKgsxDF
While support for deportation protection for DREAMers is broadly popular, including 50% of those who identify as “conservatives” and 57% of those who identify as “moderates” according to a recent Morning Consult poll, immigration reform has emerged as a divisive and polarizing political issue, particularly amongst the most staunch supporters within Trump’s base.
Questions remain whether the President’s base will stick by him despite this about face and whether Republicans will continue to support their candidate if he continues to broker deals with the opposition party instead of his own.
Update – 1:23 PM:
Asked about the prospective deal between Trump and Congressional Democrats at a news conference, House Speaker Paul Ryan was dismissive, saying, “I think the president understands he has to work with the congressional majorities to get any kind of legislative solution.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also remained noncommittal in a statement that read, “as Congress debates the best ways to address illegal immigration through strong border security and interior enforcement, DACA should be part of those discussions. We look forward to receiving the Trump administration’s legislative proposal as we continue our work on these issues.”
However, some of the rank-and-file Republican members of Congress went further in their statements. Hard-line conservative, Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona, said that “nothing short of a physical wall will suffice,” in a statement.
Key Takeaways:
• Trump and Democrat leaders, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, brokered a handshake deal to “fix” DACA, codifying protection from deportation for so-called “DREAMers,” young immigrants brought here as children. The deal did not include any action on a border wall, although Trump is expected to continue advocating for that separately.
• This is the second such deal this week between President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders. Earlier this week, Trump took the Democrats first offer on a debt ceiling deal and Hurricane Harvey aid package, shocking his Republican colleagues. According to Schumer, Trump was ecstatic over what he considered to be “incredible” positive press coverage of the debt deal made earlier this week, which may encourage him to attempt more bipartisan aisle-crossing.
• Trump’s recent bipartisan streak has resulted deals but has also involved few concessions for the Democrats, angering Republicans who feel betrayed by the President. Republican leaders and media figures are becoming increasingly irate, venting their frustrations through public channels like Twitter.
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Summary
Trump and Democrat leaders, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, brokered a handshake deal to "fix" DACA, codifying protection from deportation for so-called "DREAMers," young immigrants brought here as children. The deal did not include any action on a border wall, although Trump is expected to continue advocating for that separately. This is the second such deal this week between President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders. Earlier this week, Trump took the Democrats first offer on a debt ceiling deal and Hurricane Harvey aid package, shocking his Republican colleagues. Trump's recent bipartisan streak has resulted deals but has also involved few concessions for the Democrats, angering Republicans who feel betrayed by the President. Republican leaders and media figures are becoming increasingly irate, venting their frustrations through public channels like Twitter.