Noticed how Pence and Nielsen both spoke during Trump’s executive order signing today? If memory serves, presidents do all the talking during any televised signing of an executive order. And Trump is a hog for the limelight.
But there was Pence and Nielsen both with something to say:
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, Mr. President. And I think what the President has made clear is we believe it’s a false choice between whether we are a country of law and order, a country with borders, and a country that demonstrates the compassion and the heart of the American people in this country, for families.
By taking this action, the President will make it possible for us to continue to engage in enforcing the law against individuals who violate our law, come into our country illegally. But now we’ll be able, in the prosecution in the immediate days forward, to keep families together as that goes forward.
But we are calling on Congress to change the laws in this regard and in a broad range of areas that will secure our borders and give us strength and confidence that we are once again going to take the steps necessary to end the crisis of illegal immigration in America.
Then Nielsen:
SECRETARY NIELSEN: I just thank you for your leadership, sir. We look forward and expect the House to act this week. We ask them to do their job. The laws need to be changed. This is a problem that President after President has dealt with for decades. This one is willing to stand up and fix it. We ask Congress to do their part.
Both saying what a great guy Trump is and how everyone else is to blame.
However, I think there was a secondary message here. Trump was also smearing both of his sycophants and miscreants with the same shit he is now covered in. While Pence may not have been out front in this immoral action, I’m sure that Trump was making sure everyone remembers that Mr. President-in-waiting is in deep with Trump.
And as for Nielsen, the “surrogate daughter” of White House Chief of Staff Kelly, Trump is repaying her for all the good work she has done. If Trump has to take a bite of a shit sandwich, especially one of his own making, he is making sure that Nielsen has to do the same. It was twofer. Trump makes her share the blame for this immorality play, and he gets to punish Kelly.
Both of them have not suffered enough for what Trump did to those immigrant families.