KJP Can’t Explain Why Record Crossings Under Biden Are Trump’s Fault; DeSantis Says No Difference From Biden’s Midnight Flights

On 9/16/2022, KJP could not explain why record border crossings happening under Biden were the Trump administration’s fault, repeatedly reading from talking points about a “decimated system” while reporters pointed out the surges began under Biden’s policies. DeSantis argued his migrant flights were “no different” from Biden’s midnight flights to various states. A migrant told reporters he “thanked the president for keeping the border open.” KJP compared Republican governors’ tactics to “smugglers in Mexico and Guatemala,” then admitted the administration was itself considering moving migrants to northern states.

”Record Crossings Under Biden — Why Blame Trump?”

A reporter laid out the contradiction directly. “Yesterday you repeatedly blamed the Trump administration, but the record crossings have been happening under President Biden. One migrant we interviewed thanked the president for keeping the border open,” the reporter said. “I want to confirm — ending Remain in Mexico and Title 42 had nothing to do with the surge?”

“Let me step back and lay out what we have done,” KJP began reading from prepared remarks.

“What about the record crossing number?” the reporter interrupted. “You’re reading off expulsions because all these people are coming over.”

KJP continued citing DHS enforcement statistics without addressing why crossings had surged under Biden’s policies specifically.

DeSantis: “No Different From Federal Government”

A reporter asked KJP to respond to DeSantis’s argument that his migrant flights were “essentially no different than what the federal government has done in sending flights in the middle of the night to various states.”

“We are offering solutions. Stunts aren’t solutions. Stunts aren’t policies,” KJP said. “We’re over here trying to govern, trying to fix a system that was decimated by the last administration.”

She then made an inflammatory comparison. “All migrants were reportedly misled about where they were headed — told they would be headed to Boston, promised shelter, refuge, benefits, and more. These are the kinds of tactics we see from smugglers in places like Mexico and Guatemala,” KJP said — comparing elected American governors to criminal human smuggling organizations.

El Paso: 1,300 Per Day, Sleeping on Streets

ABC reported from the ground. “Local officials say there’s 1,300 migrants arriving every day. People are sleeping on the streets because there are no beds left. There are no buses to take them to other cities,” the reporter said.

“Is that acceptable? Is there something the administration can be doing right now?” the reporter asked.

“The Department of Homeland Security has been surging resources to the region,” KJP said. “White House officials have been in touch with the mayor about what he needs immediately.”

Biden Rejected DHS Plan to Move Migrants

A reporter revealed that Biden had turned down a DHS plan to relocate migrants. “Why would the president turn down a DHS plan to move migrants to the northern border to relieve crowding at the southern border?” the reporter asked.

“I was just asked about this question — it’s been asked and answered. I literally just answered that question,” KJP said.

“I didn’t understand what your answer was. Did he turn down a plan?” the reporter pressed.

“When this is over you can look at the transcript and take a look. I literally just answered that question,” KJP said — without actually answering it again.

Minutes later, another reporter asked: “Is the administration considering moving some of these migrants from border communities to other parts of the country?”

“There are always conversations happening about how to deal with changing circumstances at the border,” KJP said — revealing the administration was considering exactly what it called a “political stunt” when governors did it.

”Is the System Working?”

A reporter asked the bottom-line question. “Do you think the system that you have in place is working?”

“What we are asking for — we are asking for Congress to act. They should help us and work with us in finding a solution and they are not,” KJP said. “We’re dealing with a broken system.”

“Is that an acknowledgment that—” the reporter began.

“I just answered your question. We’re moving on,” KJP cut off.

FEMA Deployed

KJP confirmed FEMA was coordinating with cities receiving migrants. “FEMA regional administrators have been meeting with city officials on site to coordinate available federal support,” KJP said. “Funding is available through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program to eligible local governments and nonprofits upon request.”

Key Takeaways

KJP could not explain why record crossings under Biden were Trump’s fault; a migrant told reporters he “thanked the president for keeping the border open.”
She compared Republican governors sending migrants to other states to “tactics we see from smugglers in Mexico and Guatemala.”
Biden rejected a DHS plan to move migrants north — while the administration was simultaneously “having conversations” about doing the same thing.
El Paso had 1,300 arrivals daily with people sleeping on streets and no beds or buses available.
KJP cut off a reporter asking whether the system was “working” and said “we’re moving on.”

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

Record crossings under Biden. A migrant thanked the president for keeping the border open. Why blame Trump?
These are the kinds of tactics we see from smugglers in Mexico and Guatemala.
Why did Biden turn down a DHS plan to move migrants north? I literally just answered that question.
1,300 migrants arriving every day in El Paso. People sleeping on streets. No beds left.
Is the system working? We’re asking Congress to act. I just answered your question. We’re moving on.
There are always conversations about how to deal with changing circumstances at the border.

Full transcript: 798 words transcribed via Whisper AI.