Here’s how local politicians reacted to President Trump’s border wall speech
"This is political theatre. These games are putting our national security at risk."
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President Donald Trump made his case for funding for a southern border wall Tuesday night, and, in turn, leading Democrats criticized his remarks.
While local leaders may not have physically stood with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer during their rebuttal, they echoed the pair’s sentiments on social media.
Here’s what Massachusetts politicians had to say about border wall funding and the ongoing partial federal government shutdown. (Some of the following comments were just prior to Trump’s address.)
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey
To my @SenateGOP colleagues: let’s pass the bipartisan legislation to re-open the government. You supported it before. Support it again. Let’s put people back to work. I’m with my @SenateDems colleagues calling for an end to the #TrumpShutdown. Watch here: https://t.co/B0c13AkBus
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) January 9, 2019
800k federal workers are going without pay. And the longer #TrumpShutdown goes on, the more their worries mount. Mortgages, student loan payments, heating bills, food on the table. Trump may operate from crisis to crisis, but many American families are living paycheck to paycheck
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) January 9, 2019
The truth is that there are more Americans today going without their paychecks because of the #TrumpShutdown than immigrants who illegally crossed the southern border in the past two years.
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) January 9, 2019
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Building a border wall won’t make us any safer. You know what will? Ending this ridiculous #TrumpShutdown and making sure vital agencies like the US Coast Guard, TSA, and federal law enforcement have the funds they need to maintain our national security.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 9, 2019
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton
This is political theatre. These games are putting our national security at risk.
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) January 9, 2019
If Trump wants to build a wall that will actually work and is actually needed, let’s build a cyber wall to protect our democracy from Russia.
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) January 9, 2019
We can’t let Trump’s abuse of power and constant lying dictate our path forward. Mr President, the American people want their paychecks this Friday… they don’t want to be saddled with the bill for a wall that only protects your fragile ego. pic.twitter.com/BRWIWBgJjJ
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) January 9, 2019
Donald Trump doesn’t know what it’s like to rely on a tax refund and now he’s holding yours hostage.
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) January 9, 2019
Until the government is fully reopen, I will decline my pay. Many people do not have the luxury of choosing, so it is out of respect to them that I’ve made this choice. If you live in #MA06 and are in need of assistance due to the shutdown, my office is here to help.
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) January 9, 2019
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley
To the immigrant community in the MA 7th and across this country, you are seen, you are valued, you belong here.
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) January 9, 2019
Mr. Trump, I see right through you and so do the American people.
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) January 9, 2019
U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III
An Administration that took kids hostage to convince their parents to abandon asylum claims has now taken the American government hostage to satisfy extremist supporters. To @realDonaldTrump, this is a game. But to countless Americans, this is their livelihood. https://t.co/Szz666wgF0
— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) January 8, 2019
22 immigrants have died in ICE detention over last 2 years. 2 kids died in CBP custody in the last 2 months. 15,000 migrants kids are held in custody. Donald Trump is right that we face an urgent, horrifying humanitarian crisis. He just leaves out the part about him creating it.
— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) January 8, 2019
He chose to separate those families. He chose to keep kids in tent cities. He chose tear gas for asylum seekers. He chose to use the livelihood of 800,000 federal workers as collateral. But @realDonaldTrump clearly won’t choose to end a crisis he created, so the GOP Senate must.
— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) January 9, 2019
Like I said… https://t.co/GNstOjc76m
— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) January 9, 2019
He chose to separate those families. He chose to keep kids in tent cities. He chose tear gas for asylum seekers. He chose to use the livelihood of 800,000 federal workers as collateral. But @realDonaldTrump clearly won’t choose to end a crisis he created, so the GOP Senate must.
— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) January 9, 2019
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern
If @POTUS were really serious about protecting migrants, he would be delivering a speech on foreign policy, focusing on solving the systemic violence in Central & South America. But he’s not.
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) January 9, 2019
.@realDonaldTrump just claimed on national T.V. that @HouseDemocrats don’t support border security.
That’s a lie and he knows it.
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) January 9, 2019
Another lie.
The House of Representatives has already passed a bipartisan compromise bill that reopens the government & provides for smart, effective border security. https://t.co/Z8WgeiK2j5
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) January 9, 2019
U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan
You shouldn’t have to shut the government down to have a policy debate. Negotiating border security is an issue separate from the responsibility that Congress and the President has to keep the lights on. It is time for this shameful shutdown to end. #TrumpShutdown
— Lori Trahan (@RepLoriTrahan) January 9, 2019
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal
The American people favor secure borders and comprehensive immigration reform. But they do not believe the federal government and its workforce should be held hostage in the process. #EndTheShutdown
— Rep. Richard Neal (@RepRichardNeal) January 9, 2019
U.S. Rep. Bill Keating
The Department of Homeland Security has many responsibilities and contributing to the Terrorist Screening Database is one of them. This is the database that TSA uses for the “No-Fly List” and the database that the Department of Justice checks against gun purchases. #TrumpShutdown
— Congressman Bill Keating (@USRepKeating) January 9, 2019
The reality of the #TrumpShutdown is that the DHS, TSA, and DOJ employees responsible for protecting us are working without pay because the White House is placing politics ahead of our safety.
— Congressman Bill Keating (@USRepKeating) January 9, 2019
U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark
https://twitter.com/RepKClark/status/1082840183236710401
