Biden says Trump's pressure on congressional Republicans is reason Ukraine, immigration bill may not pass

President Biden urged the House and Senate to pass a bipartisan bill that includes security funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The bill also includes immigration reforms and funding for the U.S.-Mexico border. Biden said that former President Donald Trump has been urging congressional Republicans to vote against the bill so that the former president can use immigration as a campaign issue. Biden said that if the bill fails, he will make sure the American people know why it didn't pass. "Every day between now and November, the American people are going to know that the only reason the border is not secure is because of Donald Trump and his MAGA Republican friends," he said.

Video Transcript

JOE BIDEN: The result of all this hard work is a bipartisan agreement that represents the most fair, humane reforms in our immigration system in a long time and the toughest set of reforms to secure the border ever. Now, all indications are this bill won't even move forward to the Senate floor. Why? A simple reason-- Donald Trump.

Because Donald Trump thinks it's bad for him politically. Therefore, he doesn't-- even though it helps the country, he's not for it. He'd rather weaponize this issue than actually solve it. So for the last 24 hours, he's done nothing, I'm told, but reach out to Republicans in the House and the Senate and threaten them and try to intimidate them to vote against this proposal. And it looks like they're caving. Frankly, they owe it to the American people to show some spine and do what they know to be right.

So I'm calling on Congress to pass this bill, get it to my desk immediately. But if the bill fails, I want to be absolutely clear about something-- the American people are going to know why it failed. I'll be taking this issue to the country, and the voters are going to know that it's not just a moment-- just at the moment we're going to secure the border and fund these other programs, Trump and the MAGA Republicans said "no" because they're afraid of Donald Trump-- afraid of Donald Trump.

Every day between now and November, the American people are going to know that the only reason the border is not secure is Donald Trump and his MAGA Republican friends. It's time for Republicans in the congress to show a little courage, to show a little spine, to make it clear to the American people that you work for them, not for anyone else.