Eleanor Service | Reporter
In the wake of the tragic events that took place in New York on October 31st, President Trump has had a characteristically extreme and relatively polarizing response. He took to Twitter to say:
In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017
We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017
There have been many people questioning the President’s response to this tragedy, saying that following this attack Trump has called for immediate policy change, but in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting, he refused to discuss gun control. It has been postulated that his willingness to offer extreme viewpoints on issues of immigration and terrorism, but his refusal to tackle gun control is yet another display of his rampant bias, and yet more cause to question whether he is deserving of the presidency.
He has more recently furthered his response by tweeting:
The United States will be immediately implementing much tougher Extreme Vetting Procedures. The safety of our citizens comes first!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017
The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017
We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017
To preface this, it should be known that in August, Trump endorsed the RAISE Act, which would change the Visa system, eliminating the Lottery Program and make a merit-based point system instead of one based on family ties. But that did not receive enough support to move forward.
In response to Trump’s tweets, Chuck Schumer tweeted:
I guess it's not too soon to politicize a tragedy.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017
President Trump should be focusing on the real solution – anti-terrorism funding – which he proposed to cut in his most recent budget.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 1, 2017
While it is true that back in 1990 Schumer supported the Lottery Program, it is important to note that it was a bi-partisan push, and was actually signed through by President Bush. And, in 2014, Chuck Schumer actually proposed ending diversity visas.
Senator Jeff Flake took to Twitter to back this up, saying:
Actually, the Gang of 8, including @SenSchumer, did away with the Diversity Visa Program as part of broader reforms. I know, I was there https://t.co/QQFJzPyRzC
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 1, 2017
In fact, had the Senate Gang of 8 bill passed the House, it would have ended the Visa Lottery Program AND increased merit based visas. https://t.co/o3qJHHAv1C
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 1, 2017
With regards to Schumer’s comments on Trump’s budget cuts, they do hold some truth. Trump’s last budget plan proposed a $4.7 billion into Homeland Security, but at the same time, it would cut $582.8 million dollars from “crucial counterterrorism programs that DHS administers”. On top of this, it would cut $35.9 million from the complex coordinated terrorist attacks program, and $10 million from the countering violent extremism budget.
Many people are outraged by this proposal, saying that such extreme cuts are detrimental to the safety of the US, and do not allow the Authorities to work effectively to protect its citizens. This outrage is only compounded by the fact that $1.6 billion of the budget is being dedicated to the border wall. It seems that Trump can find the money to construct a testament to his idiocy, but not to protect the people he claims to serve.
