President Biden directly confronted former President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday, blaming him for sabotaging a bipartisan immigration agreement out of selfish political motives. After staying out of the fray for several months, Mr. Biden urged congressional Republicans to stand up to Mr. Trump, calling him out for prioritizing political gain over national security. The president asserted that the deal, negotiated over months, was derailed solely because Mr. Trump perceived it as a political liability.
The rejection of the bipartisan border deal by Republicans created not only a deadlock in the immigration debate but also threatened security assistance for Ukraine and Israel. This has led to questions about the feasibility of salvaging the emergency aid package. President Biden’s sharp speech at the White House underscored the extent to which this year’s presidential election has already influenced the debate in Washington, setting a tense stage for issues defining the upcoming election season.
Despite initially avoiding direct confrontation with Mr. Trump, President Biden has recently become more eager to challenge the former president more frontally. Biden’s speech was aimed at some Democrats who have criticized the provisions in the border bill while also attempting to call attention to the broader issue facing the American people. The speech was a step forward for Mr. Biden, who initially supported bipartisan negotiations but largely stayed away from a high-profile public fight for the deal. Yet the rejection of the border deal has raised concerns about whether Congress will be able to salvage the aid package.