Former President Donald Trump slammed President Biden’s border policies and said they’re “destroying our country” during a Fox News interview on Tuesday.
“It is a crisis like we’ve rarely had. It’s going to get much, much worse,” Trump told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo.
“We did a lot of things, and all of that is now eroded,” Trump continued, condemning Biden for rolling back the Trump administration’s border security efforts. “They are coming in from the Middle East, they’re coming in from everywhere. They’re going to destroy our country if they don’t do something about it.”
Trump’s phone interview with Bartiromo came as a massive surge of migrants continues to flood into the U.S. from the southern border. On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said illegal immigration was on track to be the highest rate in 20 years.
“My policies were working better than they’ve ever seen on the southern border,” Trump said, blaming Biden’s lax immigration policies for the current crisis.
Last month, over 100,000 migrants were encountered at the border, jumping 30 percent from January and almost tripling the number from the same period in 2020.
In the first week of March, a large group of migrants was seen at the southwest border wearing T-shirts that featured Biden’s campaign logo along with the words, “PLEASE LET US IN!”
Photographs of the group were taken on the Mexican side near the San Ysidro crossing location in Tijuana, Baja California state as they kneeled while urging Biden to continue easing immigration policies and allow more immigrants to enter the United States.
Trump also addressed the dwindling COVID-19 pandemic, noting that while he recommends Americans get vaccinated, he agrees with their right to refuse.
“I would recommend it to a lot of people that don’t want to get it,” Mr. Trump said. “A lot of those people voted for me, frankly. But … we have our freedoms and we have to live by that, and I agree with that also. But it’s a great vaccine and it’s a safe vaccine, and it’s something that works.”
When asked if he’ll run for the White House again, Trump said he wouldn’t decide until after the 2022 midterms.
“Based on every poll … they want me to run again,” he said. “We’re going to take a look and we’ll see. First … we have to see what we can do with the House. We’ll make our decision after that.”
Trump blamed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel for the GOP losses in both Senate runoff races in Georgia, handing the Democrats a Senate majority. “We need better leadership in the Senate,” Trump said.
He also scoffed at the speculation surrounding Meghan Markle and her political aspirations.
“I hope [she runs for president],” he said. “I think I’d have an even stronger feeling toward running. I’m not a fan of Meghan.”
