Lankford Chides Musk Over Opposition To Border Bill Giveaway
Embattled Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) on Monday attacked billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla owner Elon Musk over his criticism of the controversial “national security bill.”
Fellow Republicans are also up in arms over the so-called “bipartisan” measure, but Lankford chose to target Musk. He said the businessman should instead be concerned that two millions Teslas were recently recalled.
The “recall” Lankford hyperventilated about is a digitally delivered software update.
Musk posted on his X social media platform, formerly Twitter, that “the long-term goal of the so-called ‘Border Security’ bill is enabling illegals to vote! It will do the total opposite of securing the border.”
CNN’s Jake Tapper framed his question to Lankford over the post in a critical fashion. “Now I know that Elon Musk is not an expert on illegal immigration or the border but he has a huge megaphone. Explain what he’s talking about here. Is he wrong?”
That was when the Oklahoma Republican chided Musk for daring to question the motives of he and the mostly Democratic backers of the bill.
NEW: Republican Sen. James Lankford attacks Elon Musk for "2 million Teslas getting recalled" after Musk blasted the "border security bill" that sends $60 *billion* to Ukraine.
CNN's Jake Tapper also said that Musk wasn't a "border security expert" and appeared to suggest that… pic.twitter.com/lnbEfurfmn
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 5, 2024
Perhaps Lankford grew frustrated over Musk’s repeatedly pointing out falsehoods pushed by the administration over the illegal migrant crisis.
On Saturday, the entrepreneur noted that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas issued written guidance instructing agents that being illegally in the country cannot be the sole grounds for being deported.
Mayorkas, who faces impeachment over blatant dereliction of duty, further advised that criminal charges, convictions or gang membership also fall short of spurring deportation proceedings.
Either way, the immigration bill as currently constructed is likely to fail. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) blistered the proposal after its text was finally released on Sunday night.
He called it “dead on arrival” if it reached the House.
Posting on X, Johnson declared “this bill is even worse than we expected, and won’t come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created.” It would allow as many as 8,500 illegal migrants to cross into the U.S. every single day before triggering an emergency declaration.
In other words, Lankford may lash out at Musk as much as he likes. His handiwork is going nowhere.