EXCLUSIVE: Cotton on Trump’s immigration comments: “I’ve never denied that there wasn’t strong language used in the meeting by lots of people”
White House Legislative Affairs Director Marc Short says “the president has been involved” in government shutdown negotiations
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on the shutdown: “I wish the president would help us. At some point his leadership could make the difference”
JANUARY 21, 2018 – In an exclusive interview, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said he “can’t make that commitment at all” to fully support President Donald Trump on immigration.
On the president’s position on the Durbin-Graham immigration proposal and speculation of his influence, Cotton told Todd, “I don’t think anyone got to Donald Trump. Donald Trump studied the proposal that Dick Durbin and Lindsey Graham put in front of him and realized it didn’t address any of our key priorities.”
Cotton also addressed Trump’s immigration comments: “I’ve never denied that there wasn’t strong language used in the meeting by lots of people. … I was not offended. And nobody in the meeting expressed their offense at any of the language that was being used.” Watch the full interview with the Arkansas senator.
Marc Short, legislative affairs director for the White House, spoke to Todd about the president’s involvement in ending the government shutdown, responding to Todd asking why the president didn’t make a single public appearance yesterday: “The president has been involved. … The president is engaged in finding out what are the impacts of this. He’s been on the phone in trying to find a resolution to it.”
On the new immigration ad unveiled last night, Short told Todd: “That ad is produced by an outside group … not done from people working inside the White House.” When asked if it is helpful, Short replied, “It’s helpful to continue to raise awareness … the data of the ad shows that there are people coming across our border that pose threats to our country.” Watch the full interview.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) would not commit to the government reopening before close of business Monday, telling Todd, “I’m not going to make that prediction, but I feel that there are positive conversations.” He added: “I wish the president would help us. At some point his leadership could make the difference.”
On the president’s immigration comments, Durbin said, “It did happen, Chuck. I’m sorry that it was said. I’m sorry that the president denied it.” Watch the full interview.
Todd also reported on why Democrats are drawing a line on DACA, noting that the numbers on the issue seem to favor the party in the polls and at the congressional district level: “If the Democrats do indeed take back the House this November it could be because they fought for DACA issue and they won districts like this, Republican-held districts with larger than average minority population.”
NBC News’ Peter Alexander, Republican strategist Al Cardenas, Democratic strategist Stephanie Cutter and The Wall Street Journal’s Peggy Noonan joined this morning’s roundtable for analysis on the week in politics, including on the president’s role in shutdown negotiations. “A lot of people are saying this president has been MIA,” Alexander noted.
Read the full transcript of this morning’s “Meet the Press” on MeetThePress.com.
For more from moderator Chuck Todd throughout the week, sign up for the “First Read” newsletter, and subscribe to “1947: The Meet the Press Podcast” for on-demand interviews.
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NBC NEWS’ “MEET THE PRESS WITH CHUCK TODD”
“Meet the Press with Chuck Todd” is where newsmakers come to make news — setting the political agenda and spotlighting the impact Washington decision-making has on Americans across the country. It is the #1 most-watched Sunday public affairs show across the board for the 2016-2017 season, reaching more than three million viewers every Sunday and millions more through social, digital and on-demand platforms. “Meet the Press” brings its authority and influencer interviews to MSNBC with “MTP Daily” weekdays at 5 p.m. ET and to the “1947: The Meet the Press Podcast”. It’s the longest-running show in television history, having celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2017 with the launch of its first-ever film festival in collaboration with the American Film Institute this November. Chuck Todd is the political director of NBC News and the moderator of “Meet the Press“; John Reiss is the executive producer.
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