President Donald Trump is really an island in his own party over the ouster of former DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, with most Republicans expressing affection for Nielsen and a growing concern at the hollowed-out department.
According to a Monday Politico report, most Republicans are balking at Trump’s booting of Nielsen and Secret Service chief Randolph “Tex” Alles, wondering how throwing departments into turmoil in pursuit of Stephen Miller’s hardline immigration dream will help in 2020.
Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) sang Nielsen’s praises, and many wonder how she could have done a better job with the gargantuan task at hand.
Still others, always wary of incurring the President’s rage, tossed the buck to Congress.
“Congress also has a responsibility here to act. This is where legislation has to be passed,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told Politico. “What the President is doing is seeing the crisis and trying to solve the problem. He’s trying to get the right people in the right positions.”
Democrats are really the only group pleased with Nielsen’s departure, many of whom hold her responsible for the family separation crisis that hit a crescendo last summer.
