Trump Wants Military To Secure Mexico Border

The Associated Press reports:

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants to use the military to secure the U.S.-Mexico border until his promised border wall is built. Speaking at a lunch with Baltic leaders, Trump said he’s been discussing the idea with his Defense Secretary, Jim Mattis. “We’re going to be doing things militarily. Until we can have a wall and proper security, we’re going to be guarding our border with the military,” he said, calling the measure a “big step.” “We really haven’t done that before, or certainly not very much before,” he said.

Trump has been deeply frustrated about the lack of progress building what was the signature promise of his campaign: a “big, beautiful wall” along the Mexican border. He’s previously suggested using the Pentagon’s budget to pay for building the wall, arguing it is a national security priority, despite strict rules that prohibit spending that’s not authorized by Congress. The Department of Homeland Security, Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on how such a plan might work.

The New York Times reports:

When President Trump began railing against the current state of American immigration measures over the weekend, it was hard to tell where his thoughts ended and Brandon Judd’s began. Mr. Judd is the president of the National Border Patrol Council, a frequent guest on Fox News and a reliably vocal supporter of the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration agenda. On Sunday, he was interviewed on “Fox & Friends,” one of the president’s favorite programs.

What followed was a public mind meld with the president, one that has frequently occurred since Mr. Trump took office. In January, Mr. Trump publicly praised Mr. Judd’s continued support. “Thank you to Brandon Judd of the National Border Patrol Council for your kind words on how well we are doing at the Border,” Mr. Trump tweeted after another Fox segment featuring Mr. Judd. “We will be bringing in more & more of your great folks and will build the desperately needed WALL!”