Rep. Steve King, the vocal pro-wall backer who has called undocumented immigrants “invaders,” hit Twitter to blast the Senate Democrats for pushing legislation that includes billions of dollars for border security, including a new wall.
“Leadership in Congress needs to change & courage & wisdom will prevail,” the Iowa Republican tweeted Thursday.
King’s remarks come two days after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Republicans need to “pay for Trump’s border wall” or work with Democrats to reduce the country’s immigration system.
Trump continued to loudly defend the border wall Wednesday on the Sunshine State’s morning talk shows, with the president saying he’ll “take great heat for saying that we need a wall” between the US and Mexico.
King did not immediately return a CNN request for comment.
Three Republicans introduced a supplemental spending bill to pay for border security, including $22 billion in new spending over five years on a wall and Customs and Border Protection infrastructure.
Senate Republicans were unified in opposition to the spending proposal introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Michael Bennet of Colorado and Cory Gardner of Colorado.
The #MeToo movement and an ongoing criminal investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller have marked the first time in recent memory that congressional Republicans have largely backed away from the president’s border wall, with just one exception.
Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, recently visited the Mexican border and told reporters she’s worried the president’s wall could fuel new tensions with Mexico. But she is also reportedly supporting funding for a border wall.
CNN’s Jamie Gangel contributed to this report.