President Donald Trump challenged Democrats to come to the negotiating table to fix the issue of child separation at the border.
“We can solve that problem in one meeting,” Trump told a throng of reporters at the White House on Friday. “Tell the Democrats, your friends, to call me.”
He said that he hated to see the separation of children and their parents trying to enter the country illegally or through the use of loopholes in the asylum laws.
“The children can be taken care of quickly, beautifully and immediately,” Trump said. “The Democrats forced that law upon our nation. I hate it. I hate to see the separation of parents and children.”
He dismissed protests from reporters who pointed out that he was the president and that Republicans led both houses of Congress.
“You need their votes,” Trump said referring to the Democrats in the Senate. “You need 60 votes.”
He defended Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his “zero tolerance” policy at the border, noting that he was just “following the laws.”
“He’s following laws, very simply, that were given to us and forced upon us by the Democrats,” Trump said.
Later Friday afternoon, Trump urged Democrats to work with him for a tough immigration bill.