Trump Compares Migrants’ Experience To Visiting Disneyland, Blames Obama For Child Separation Policy

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday during a press conference, President Donald Trump escalated his stance against immigration while falsely attributing his administration’s family separation policy to his predecessor, Barack Obama.

“Just so you understand, President Obama separated the children,” Trump insisted. Notably, although Obama’s administration did hold “unaccompanied” minors, the majority of them came to the United States without parents or guardians.

Nevertheless, Trump also maintained his belief that the policy is an effective one, claiming it deters illegal immigrants from easily crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. “And I’ll tell you something: once you don’t have it, that’s why you see many more people coming,” Trump said of the practice’s usefulness. “They’re coming like it’s a picnic like, ‘Let’s go to Disneyland.'”

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Trump and his administration reportedly have been evaluating whether or not to reinstate the family separation policy. The president, however, commented how they are “not looking to” do so.

Shifting to another topic, Trump spoke ill of the European Union, having previously accused it of taking advantage of “the U.S. on trade for many years.” In retaliation, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on European goods that would total about $11 billion.

Friction rose between Trump and European leaders on this point since June 2018, when he imposed tariffs on European steel and aluminum imports. In response, the E.U. imposed $3.4 billion worth of U.S. imports. Both parties are in talks to scale down the tariffs.