Why Trump's dizzying flip-flops on immigration have been politically disastrous for the GOP

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

published 27 June 2018

President Trump issued an all-caps endorsement of the Republican immigration compromise bill Wednesday morning, marking yet another about-face on the legislation just hours ahead of the planned House vote:

Trump has gone back and forth on the bill in conversation with lawmakers, too. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) told CNN earlier this week that he believes the so-called compromise bill can pass, "but the president needs to lean into this I think. A lot of members of my party want to hear from the president, they want to hear this is something he supports." Another member added: "This only works if Trump's behind us. No use sticking out our necks if the bill's going to fail."

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Politico's John Bresnahan observes that "Trump's messaging on House immigration bill has been disastrous" for House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). Or, as an unnamed lawmaker put it to CNN: "I think we are proving to ourselves that Republicans cannot pass an immigration bill."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.