Dan Crenshaw Accuses Anderson Cooper of Trying to Goad Him ‘Into a Fight with Trump’ – Host Replies, ‘I’m Not Trying to Get You to Get Into a Fight!’

CNN’s Anderson Cooper grilled Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) about former President Donald Trump’s successful attempt to tank a border deal in Congress.

On Tuesday, the Senate failed to advance border security and immigration legislation crafted by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK). Before the text was even released, Trump publicly urged Republicans to reject any border bill unless it is “perfect.”

Trump and Republicans have long criticized President Joe Biden on immigration, and the former president will look to use it against Biden on the presidential campaign trail.

Cooper asked Crenshaw about Trump’s position on Wednesday’s AC360.

“Isn’t it clear that the former president does not want any deal and Republicans are not going to make any deal if the former president doesn’t want it?” the host asked.

Crenshaw replied by insisting Republicans don’t need to wield immigration as a cudgel against Biden to defeat him.

“Here’s what I say to people who think that they need to let illegal immigrants in just to hurt Biden in the polls,” Crenshaw replied. “My message to Trump is, I think you can beat Biden. I will help you beat Biden. That’s my message. And look, Biden is unpopular in so many ways.”

The congressman went on to blame activists on “both sides” who do not want solutions to the border problem, prompting Cooper to interrupt:

COOPER: But you’re talking about Donald Trump. I mean, I understand you are saying it’s activist groups, but Donald Trump makes money–

CRENSHAW: I know you want me to say that.

COOPER: Well, no. I don’t want– I mean, you’re a very honest guy and a very– people on both sides of the aisle applaud you for that. He has put his thumb on the scale on this. And I understand the activist groups who have agendas and make money off this make money off this, but he’s making money off this and he’s running an election. I mean, this is a, perhaps a winning issue for him. And he does not want improvement despite all the talk of fentanyl, despite all the talk of national security issues. He doesn’t want a deal.

CRENSHAW: I mean, look, you’d have to ask him. You’d have to pull a quote from him that I can respond to–

COOPER: But lots of people in the House have said that. There’s a lot of Republicans in the House who supported H.R. 2 who are now saying, “We don’t need any border deal at all.” And the only reason is because–

CRENSHAW: They’re wrong. And I disagree with them. I disagree with them in conversations today on the floor. I said, “Look, if we didn’t need new border laws, why did we pass H.R. 2? You know, Trump needed new border laws when he was president. He needed laws changed. What he ended up doing, which was great, he made a deal with Mexico. He did the Remain in Mexico policy. He created the asylum cooperation agreements with Northern Triangle countries. That’s what he ended up having to do. So look, I know you wanted me to kind of like get into a fight with Trump. I’m not going to do it. I’m–

COOPER: No, I’m not trying to get you to get into a fight!

CRENSHAW: And what’s true is, we need a border deal.

Watch above via CNN.

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