'What's changed?' Trump's 'border czar' confronted on CNN with old Trump clip
White House border czar Tom Homan defended Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles during a CNN interview on Monday, where host Kaitlan Collins pressed him on a contradictory statement made by the president in 2020.
Speaking about the escalating protests and Trump’s controversial move to deploy federal law enforcement to Los Angeles, Homan praised the MAGA leader’s decision as necessary to prevent violence.
“I think President Trump did exactly the right thing,” Homan said Monday. “He's trying to prevent another Minnesota from 2020, trying to prevent another Portland, Seattle tragedy. So, I'm happy he deployed the National Guard.”
But Collins next played a clip from 2020 in which Trump said, “We have to go by the laws. We can't move in the National Guard. I can call insurrection, but there's no reason to ever do that. Even in a Portland case, we can't call in the National Guard unless we're requested by a governor.”
Collins then turned to Homan and asked: “The law, of course, has not changed since then. So what has?”
Homan cited his reliance on legal officials, whose decisions he said he backs.
“I’m not an attorney, and all I know is I'm on calls every day with the heads of DOD and DOJ,” Homan told the CNN anchor. “These warriors are making these decisions,” he added. “I stand by it.”
But Collins continued to press the White House border czar.
“I think some people may look at that and say, well, one, you know the law very well. Obviously, you worked in deportations when President Obama was in office. you're now back in this role.”
“I know immigration law very well, but I'm not an expert on constitutional law, or insurrection law…that's out of my lane.”
Homan concluded: “I simply am thankful that whatever President Trump decided that was backed up by attorneys at the Department of Justice and Department of Defense. I'm just glad he deployed those National Guard [troops] here, because I think we're saving lives, and I think they're protecting property.”
Watch the video below via CNN or at the link here: