There are a lot of reports coming out this afternoon — following a White House luncheon with news anchors — about how President Trump is open to a comprehensive immigration bill with compromise on both sides:
Colleague Bret Baier rpts Trump says he’ll push an “immigration bill” with compromise on both sides. He’ll mention that in his speech
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) February 28, 2017
Via @chucktodd and @LesterHoltNBC: Trump may issue a call for an immigration “compromise” in speech tonight, WH official says
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) February 28, 2017
@DLind Full WH aide quote: “The time is right for an immigration bill if both sides are willing to compromise.”
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) February 28, 2017
WH official says President believes now may be time for immigration bill that has compromise on all sides.
— GeorgeStephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos) February 28, 2017
Trump shift: official says WH open to legal status for undoc immigrants who haven’t committed serious crimes, per @wolfblitzer @jaketapper
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 28, 2017
CNN quotes a senior administration official as saying the following:
The President believes that the nation is now in a position where it can pass immigration legislation, the senior administration official said, with the need to have “a softening on both sides. There’s got to be a coming together”…
“It has to be a negotiation,” the official said, arguing that the bill theoretically could make people on both the “far right” and “far left” happy.
“It could be good for everyone,” the senior administration official said. “People are exhausted” from debating the topic.
Trump will almost certainly address immigration during his address to a joint session of Congress tonight, given that his guests include families of people killed by illegal immigrants.
UPDATE –– 6:16 pm ET: It turns out the above “the time is right” quote came from none other than President Trump himself:
President Trump: “The time is right for an immigration bill if both sides are willing to compromise.” https://t.co/yZ76zHobVK
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 28, 2017
President Trump told reporters today: "The time is right for an immigration bill as long as there is compromise on both sides."
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 28, 2017
[image via Shutterstock]
——
Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com
