On Thursday evening, all three evening news broadcasts followed the lead of their morning counterparts in reporting on a major flip-flop from the Biden administration regarding the wall along the southern border: Biden has decided to finish building the wall that Trump started.
“We begin tonight with President Biden planning to now build more of the border wall. A major reversal from his campaign for president, saying he would never build more of the wall,” ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir announced during the opening segment of the broadcast.
“This plan to now add up to 20 miles of new wall in Texas, with money allocated back in the Trump administration in 2019,” Muir added, “The White House saying by law, that money must now be spent.”
Over on CBS Evening News, anchor Norah O’Donnell also lead with the Biden border flip:
We begin tonight with a major reversal by the Biden administration due to the ongoing crisis at the southern border. The administration is moving forward with plans to build new border barriers in south Texas. And that’s an abrupt change from a campaign pledge made by then-candidate Joe Biden. The president defended his decision, saying he has no choice because the funding was approved specifically for a border wall. For just the second time in history, data from the Department of Homeland Security shows apprehensions along the southern border surpassed 2 million in the past year. Southern states are not alone in feeling the impact, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott sending busloads of asylum-seekers to so-called sanctuary cities. Mayors from New York to Los Angeles say they are being overwhelmed by the massive influx of migrants.
Meanwhile on NBC Nightly News, anchor Lester Holt kicked off his program with the same report.
“A new effort to build a border wall tonight coming from an unexpected place, the White House,” Holt reported.
“In an official notice, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas saying there is an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers to prevent unlawful entries into the United States,” he added.
Holt then pointed out that “t's a sharp policy shift for a president who once called a wall spanning the southern border a waste of time. The new construction will be along a stretch of border in Starr County, Texas.”
The transcript is below:
ABC’s World News Tonight
10/5/2023
6:33:02 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: We begin tonight with President Biden planning to now build more of the border wall. A major reversal from his campaign for president, saying he would never build more of the wall. Tonight, his Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas saying, quote, there is an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads near the border. The numbers are daunting. More than 2.2 million migrants crossing the border since last October in just the last year. Towns and communities along the southern border pleading for help. And now leaders in cities across the U.S., buses arriving in New York City. We have reported on the migrants sleeping on sidewalks. In Los Angeles, dealing with the flow of migrants, too. Democratic mayors and governors have called for federal action, as well. Tonight, this plan to now add up to 20 miles of new wall in Texas, with money allocated back in the Trump administration in 2019. The White House saying by law, that money must now be spent. Tonight, the president is asked, why now? And will a border wall work? His eye-opening answer tonight. And the White House facing the reality, an immigration crisis, and Democrats and Republicans in congress who have not come up with a solution, either. Tonight, this new part of the wall, and the deportations that will now begin.
CBS Evening News
10/5/2023
6:32:21 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: We begin tonight with a major reversal by the Biden administration due to the ongoing crisis at the southern border. The administration is moving forward with plans to build new border barriers in south Texas. And that’s an abrupt change from a campaign pledge made by then-candidate Joe Biden. The president defended his decision, saying he has no choice because the funding was approved specifically for a border wall. For just the second time in history, data from the Department of Homeland Security shows apprehensions along the southern border surpassed 2 million in the past year. Southern states are not alone in feeling the impact, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott sending busloads of asylum-seekers to so-called sanctuary cities. Mayors from New York to Los Angeles say they are being overwhelmed by the massive influx of migrants.
NBC Nightly News
10/5/2023
6:31:49 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: A new effort to build a border wall tonight coming from an unexpected place, the White House. In an official notice, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas saying there is an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers to prevent unlawful entries into the United States. Facing a growing influx of migrants illegally entering the country, the administration is waiving 26 federal laws in order to allow more wall construction. Using money allocated before President Biden took office. It's a sharp policy shift for a president who once called a wall spanning the southern border a waste of time. The new construction will be along a stretch of border in Starr County, Texas. And tonight former President Trump, who built his successful 2016 presidential campaign around a promise to build a border wall is claiming vindication.
