Arizona Senator Mark Kelly attacked Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump over immigration issues, claiming he scuttled a bipartisan effort on border control to campaign on the issue.
Kelly, who is also considered a candidate for Vice President Kamala Harris’s vice presidential nomination, appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday and gave his first television interview since President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.
“I represent a border state … I can’t stress enough that this is an issue that Donald Trump and the Republicans just want to talk about,” Kelly said at the appearance. “Kamala Harris is all about solving problems. Donald Trump wants to set us back a decade.”
Immigration control, especially at the southern border of the USA, is a key issue for Republicans. Here you can find out everything you need to know about the topic and Kelly’s interview.
More: Trump calls Harris ‘evil’ at rally as Republicans struggle to agree on attacks
Bipartisan border bill rejected earlier this year
A border bill negotiated by a bipartisan group of senators over the winter was defeated twice this year. The bill was designed in part to pressure Republicans to pass an aid bill that would provide $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Biden supported the border package, which would have shortened the time to review asylum applications, made eligibility more difficult and temporarily halted the processing of applications for people who cross the border illegally under certain circumstances.
Although the bill initially had the support of a significant number of Republican lawmakers, Trump opposed the bill, and Senate Republicans followed suit. Democrats used the bill’s failure to label Republicans hypocrites, and Republicans called the bill, which was certain to fail, a political ploy.
“We recognize that we need to gain operational control of the border. I recognize that, Kamala Harris recognizes that, and this bill was designed to do just that,” Kelly said. “Donald Trump nipped that in the bud because he wanted to make this a campaign issue.”
Kelly also took a swipe at vice presidential candidate JD Vance, who is scheduled to visit the border in Arizona on Thursday morning, calling it a “photo op.”
Kelly brings immigration experience to the vice presidential race and evades questions about his candidacy
Kelly repeatedly promised to help Harris get elected, but declined to answer questions about how he sees his position among the potential running mate candidates.
Kelly is reportedly still in the race, along with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Kelly was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 and was previously an astronaut and captain in the U.S. Navy.
Among the candidates, Kelly could bring more experience with border issues.
“I’m constantly at the border, meeting with mayors, sheriffs and NGOs,” Kelly said in an interview on Wednesday. “It’s a difficult problem that needs to be solved.”
Contributors: Riley Beggin, Elisabeth Beyer, USA TODAY; Ronald J. Hansen, Arizona Republic
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vice Presidential candidate Mark Kelly on Donald Trump’s immigration plans
