Trump doesn't sound particularly optimistic about his immigration plan passing anytime soon

President Trump rolled out his new immigration proposal on Thursday, but he didn't sound overly optimistic it will actually become law before 2021.

Trump in a press conference announced his previously reported merit-based immigration plan that would prioritize skills over family ties. This would involve the introduction of what Trump is calling a Build America Visa, which would replace green cards and use a points-based selection system. The plan also includes a "permanent and self-sustaining border security trust fund," Trump said.

Even as pundits widely agreed this plan has no chance of making it through Congress as is, Trump said he hoped to get it passed "as soon as possible." But he sounded more pessimistic about it by the end of the speech, saying that if "for some reason, possibly political, we can't get the Democrats to approve" the plan, then "we will get it approved immediately after the election," confidently declaring Republicans will take back the House of Representatives and keep the Senate in 2020.

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He added, though, "Wouldn't it be nice to get it done sooner?"

The New York Times previously reported that administration officials are conceding this plan is a "long way" from being passed, with one saying it's simply a "first step toward having that discussion." The Washington Post also wrote that the bill is "designed more as a messaging document from the White House."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) previously said that the plan from the White House is "not designed to become law," while prior to Trump's remarks, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) dismissed it as not "serious." Brendan Morrow