Texas Governor Greg Abbott has flatly rejected serving as Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate in favor of remaining in his state to deal with the border crisis.
The governor warned that the United States is in “imminent danger” due to an “invasion” of “known and unknown terrorists, who cross every day.”
He said the best way to help Trump was to “be a great governor of Texas.”
The presidential hopeful had previously touted Abbott as a possibility for his vice president, saying he was “absolutely” on his short list.
But Abbott flatly squashed any suggestion of running in an interview with 60 Minutes, saying “no” when asked if he wanted to be on the Republican ticket with the former president.
Abbott also defended the use of the word ‘invasion’ to describe the thousands of migrants crossing the southern border and arriving in Texas each day at a record pace.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has rejected being Trump’s running mate in favor of remaining in his state to deal with the border crisis.
Trump said Abbott was “absolutely” still on a short list of vice presidential candidates following a visit with the governor to Eagle Pass.
Abbott warned that the US is in ‘imminent danger’ due to an ‘invasion’ by ‘known and unknown terrorists’
The governor said the term was accurate, ‘because of what the drug cartels do every day.’ For the known and unknown terrorists who cross every day.
‘There is no language that can incite violence. But I want to make this clear, we do not want violence of any kind,’ he stated.
Recent months have seen record numbers of migrants and asylum seekers enter the country.
By the end of September, experts predict the backlog of asylum seekers and other immigrants in the United States will reach eight million.
The figure represents an increase of 167 percent in five years, according to figures obtained by axios.
Abbott reiterated his belief that Biden has lost control of the situation and suggested the only resolution will come in November if a new president is elected.
“This ends very simply, which is to say, with a president of the United States who will actually uphold his oath to uphold the laws of the United States of America, that means denying illegal entry into the country,” he said.
There were more than 300,000 encounters in the last month of 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol sources told Fox News.
Recent months have seen a record number of immigrants and asylum seekers entering the country.
By the end of September, experts predict the backlog of asylum seekers and other immigrants in the United States will reach eight million.
Between December 1 and December 31, more than 302,000 migrants were documented attempting to cross the southern border of the United States.
It was the highest single-month total ever recorded in history and marks the first time migrant encounters exceeded 300,000.
Since the beginning of fiscal year 2021, more than 300 people on the terrorist watch list have crossed the southwest border between ports of entry, according to House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green.
He added that “there is no way to know how many more there were among the 1.8 million known escapees.”
Immigration has become a flashpoint in the upcoming election, with both Biden and Trump making rival visits to the border on the same day.
A Gallup poll found that 28 percent of Americans now believe immigration is the biggest problem facing the United States, more so than the economy or inflation.
The number was a record since Gallup began surveying voters about their opinions on immigration in 1981.
On Thursday, Abbott used Trump’s visit to Eagle Pass to criticize Biden for “putting America in danger by “not doing his job” at the border.”
Abbott said the best way to help Trump would be to “be a great governor of Texas”
Abbott reiterated his belief that Biden has lost control of the situation and suggested the only resolution would come in November if a new president is elected.
Between December 1 and December 31, more than 302,000 migrants were documented attempting to cross the southern border of the United States.
He also guided Trump along the edge of the Rio Grande and showed him what Texas is doing to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing.
The Republican governor showed Trump how shipping containers covered in concertina wire are used as barriers. He also took him to the place where the body of a drowned migrant was brought ashore.
Abbott laid out plans to build an 80-acre base for the Texas National Guard.
He also vowed to continue his policy of busing illegal immigrants to Democratic “sanctuary” cities.
It came as Biden visited the border city of Brownsville, Texas, about 324 miles from where Abbot appeared with Trump but still in his state.
The visit was dismissed as a “photo op” by the Border Patrol Union and dismissed as “all a matter of politics.”
After his trip to Eagle Pass, Trump claimed that Abbott is “absolutely” among the possible vice presidential candidates.
Abbott previously laid out plans to build an 80-acre base for the Texas National Guard.
He also vowed to continue his policy of busing illegal immigrants to Democratic “sanctuary” cities.
Other names on the Republican presidential front-runner’s list of potential vice presidents include Sen. Tim Scott, Ben Carson, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Rep. Elise Stefanik.
Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Rep. Byron Donalds and former Trump press secretary turned Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders are also considered still in the frame.
Immigration has become ingrained in Biden’s domestic and foreign policy: His push for more funding for Ukraine and Israel was hampered by Republicans’ desire for more funding for the borders.
Biden asked Congress for $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, but Republicans refused to approve the assistance without a deal with Democrats to bolster security along the U.S.-Mexico border.
His request also includes $14 billion for Israel in its fight against Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security.
Biden and his Democrats have offered major concessions on border security to try to reach a deal, including raising standards for asylum seekers and expanding the president’s power to quickly expel migrants who cross the border.