One of the strongest supporters of Donald Trump in the U.S. Senate is praising the GOP nominee’s immigration address delivered Wednesday in Phoenix.
“What we’ve seen from Donald Trump today is nothing short of presidential, as he demonstrated bold leadership during his visit to Mexico,” said Sen. David A. Perdue, R.-GA, who was a successful businessman and CEO before his election in 2014.
“The plan he unveiled tonight is consistent with his efforts to restore law and order to our country,” he said.
“Trump has been clear since day one that he will make America safe again by first securing our borders and enforcing current immigration laws,” he said.
In addition to being one of a handful of Trump supporters in the Senate, the former CEO of Dollar General has served as a surrogate for the Trump campaign.
Perdue also appeared with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence during the vice-presidential candidate’s just completed two-day campaign swing of rallies and fundraisers through Georgia.
The trip was not only a stroke to lock down the usually reliable GOP state, but also a testament to the influence of Nick Ayers, who is Pence’s senior adviser and married to one of the senator’s distant cousins.
Perdue said he was impressed by the day’s work Trump put in.
The New York City developer flew to Mexico City for a private meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and then Trump returned to America to tell supporters in Phoenix his 10-point plan to reform the country’s immigration system, policies and tone.
Trump told his Phoenix supporters the most important goal of his immigration plan was to make life better for the American people.
“Immigration reform should mean something else entirely: it should mean improvements to our laws and policies to make life better for American citizens,” he said.
“But to fix our immigration system, we must change our leadership in Washington. There is no other way,” he said.
“The truth is, our immigration system is worse than anyone realizes,” Trump said. “But the facts aren’t known because the media won’t report on them, the politicians won’t talk about them, and the special interests spend a lot of money trying to cover them up.”
Perdue, who as a senior executive at Reebok championed and secured the company’s relationship with the NFL, said Trump was not bringing change as much as bringing back what President Barack Obama has forgotten and ignored.
“National security is a top priority for Georgians and all Americans, the senator said.
“For too long, President Obama has ignored the real national security risks associated with illegal immigration and sanctuary cities,” he said.
Perdue said the president’s focus on his immigration goals is also an attack on the American system of government.
“Instead, Obama has consistently circumvented Congress and the American people to implement his executive amnesty agenda,” he said.
“Trump’s leadership is sorely needed as we cannot allow Hillary Clinton to continue this legacy of lawlessness.”