Fox News reporter Bill Melugin took a moment on Monday to call out President Joe Biden’s administration over recent claims addressing the ongoing chaos at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Biden’s National Security spokesman John Kirby spoke to the issue during a recent briefing, saying — as Biden has — that he is willing to use executive authority at the border, but that he needs the bipartisan bill to pass first.
Melugin argued that wasn’t so in a post via X.
“Notable: a reporter just asked John Kirby why President Biden doesn’t just use his executive authority at the border …” Melugin began. “Kirby replied Biden is willing to, but wants/needs the Senate border bill first. Reporter asked why? Kirby says Biden needs the authority in the bill.”
“That is not true,” Melugin continued. “The same authority Biden used to reverse almost every Trump policy at the border — including terminating the national emergency declaration at the border upon taking office — can be used to make significant changes.”
Notable: A reporter asked John Kirby why President Biden doesn’t just use his executive authority at the border…
Kirby replied Biden is willing to, but wants/needs the Senate border bill first.
Reporter asked why?
Kirby says Biden needs the authority in the bill.
That is… pic.twitter.com/bJ2h3etMMG
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 29, 2024
Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich pressed Kirby along the same line of questioning, asking whether Biden was holding back on using executive actions as leverage to force the border security bill — which is tied to additional funding for Ukraine — through Congress.
“I also asked Kirby if Biden was withholding executive action on the border until he gets the money in the supplemental. Kirby: ‘No, I’m not suggesting that. I’m suggesting that the way forward, the proper way forward is to get this supplemental passed,'” Heinrich posted, recounting the conversation.
I also asked Kirby if Biden was withholding executive action on the border until he gets the money in the supplemental.
Kirby: “No, I'm not suggesting that. I'm suggesting that the way forward, the proper way forward is to get this supplemental passed.” https://t.co/EQMUL71v0F
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) January 29, 2024
House Speaker Mike Johnson has also weighed in on the bill, calling it a “non-starter” if it allows even one person to cross illegally into the United States before closing the border to stop the flow.
“Any border ‘shutdown’ authority that ALLOWS even one illegal crossing is a non-starter. Thousands each day is outrageous. The number must be ZERO,” he posted.
Any border "shutdown" authority that ALLOWS even one illegal crossing is a non-starter. Thousands each day is outrageous. The number must be ZERO.
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) January 29, 2024