House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is accusing Republicans of focusing on the situation at the southern border because they cannot come up with ideas on how to help the American people.
“The Biden administration has this under control. It has changed, and it will take some time, but it is values-based, humanitarian in its aspects, pragmatic with a plan to get things done,” Pelosi said during her press conference on Friday.
She added, “Not just a diversionary tactic on the part of the Republicans because they are bankrupt of ideas on how to improve the lives of the American people. They run to the border.”
Watch part of Pelosi’s press conference below:
Pelosi says the Biden administration has the situation at the border "under control" and accuses GOP of engaging in a "diversionary tactic" by "run[ning] to the border" because "they are bankrupt of ideas on how to improve the lives of the American people." pic.twitter.com/jvY65e4QTe
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 19, 2021
Pelosi seemingly reiterated her comments from one of her press conferences last week, as IJR reported.
“I guess their Dr. Seuss approach didn’t work for them so now they’ve had to change the subject,” Pelosi said. “But we do not prioritize our values and how we can make a difference in the lives of the American people to be attuned to the bankruptcy of ideas that the Republicans have.”
Pelosi’s comments came after Republicans spent time reacting to a decision to stop the publication of six of Dr. Seuss’s books for offensive imagery.
Republicans are referring to the surge of unaccompanied migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border as a “crisis.” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called the situation a “Biden border crisis.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (S-S.C.) called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign, saying the administration has “lost control of the border.”
“It is time for DHS Secretary Mayorkas to change course or change jobs. The situation is bad and only going to get worse. Unless there is immediate and drastic change, the worst is yet to come – by far,” Graham added.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called the situation a “crisis” but then walked back her comment, as IJR reported.
One reporter at Thursday’s press briefing noted her use of the term and asked if it is indicative of a change in the administration’s view of the state of the border.
“Challenges on the border,” Psaki replied.
