After Wednesday’s network evening newscasts rushed to slam President Trump’s immigration reform proposal, on Thursday, the morning shows of NBC, ABC, and CBS continued the work of trashing the “hardline” policy and framing it as a “major new controversy” for the administration designed to only appeal to the President’s “hardcore supporters.”
On NBC’s Today, fill-in co-host Hoda Kotb proclaimed: “Now to the White House and major new controversies facing President Trump this morning. Topping that list, his push to overhaul the nation’s immigration policy with a merit-based system. And it’s already drawing fierce criticism.”
In the report that followed, correspondent Peter Alexander let the ideological labels fly as he warned viewers: “President Trump declaring America’s immigration system broken....Now embracing a new hardline proposal sponsored by two conservative Republican senators that would slash legal immigration by 50% in ten years...”
Returning to the topic at the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, co-host Matt Lauer derided the move: “President Trump hitting the road today after pushing an immigration bill that plays right to his core supporters.” Correspondent Kristen Welker piled on: “The President is trying to get back to his base today. He’ll travel to West Virginia for a campaign-style rally this afternoon and it comes on the heels of the President backing a sweeping and controversial new immigration bill.”
She touted: “Opponents argue it would actually hurt the economy, potentially limiting workers from industries like agriculture and tourism.”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, co-host George Stephanopoulos announced: “...the White House is facing backlash over that plan to cut the number of legal U.S. immigrants in half.” Correspondent Cecilia Vega declared: “...both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill say the impacts on the economy from this proposal would be so negative, it’s a non-starter.”
Following Vega’s report, Stephanopoulos turned to Chief White House Correspondent Jon Karl and dismissed the legislative proposal as futile:
And Jon, let’s start out with that poll we just showed it. 33% approval now for the President, an all-time low. And you see this happening as the President is now focusing solely – really on his core supporters, his hardcore Trump supporters, like with that immigration announcement yesterday.
Karl agreed: “Yeah, he still is popular among Republicans and this is clearly aimed at that base because, George, it is not based – is not aimed at actually passing something.”
In another report at the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, Vega touted: “...critics are not backing down on this one, even the U.S. Commerce – Chamber of Commerce says that cutting legal immigration by half would seriously damage the economy and hurt American jobs.” She later sniffed: “Immigration right now hardly a top priority.”
At the top of CBS This Morning, co-host Charlie Rose parroted the same liberal talking points: “Critics say the plan would hurt families and handcuff key industries.” Introducing a report on the topic minutes later, he observed: “President Trump is backing a Republican plan to cut legal immigration in half. He faces strong opposition over what would be the most significant change to our immigration system in more than half a century.”
Fill-in co-host Margaret Brennan threw the coverage to White House correspondent Major Garrett by saying this: “Major Garrett is at the White House with the bill that many critics are denouncing.” Garrett sneered: “President Trump toyed with the idea of pushing comprehensive immigration reform, but for now is focusing on just one part of the system, the part appears least broken and has the most bipartisan support.”
The biased coverage across the three networks was brought to viewers by Xfinity, Honda, and Crest.
Here are excerpts of the August 3 morning show reports on NBC, ABC, and CBS:
Today
7:08 AM ET
HODA KOTB: Now to the White House and major new controversies facing President Trump this morning. Topping that list, his push to overhaul the nation’s immigration policy with a merit-based system. And it’s already drawing fierce criticism. We have two reports from the White House, starting with NBC National Correspondent Peter Alexander. Hey, Peter, good morning.
PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Hoda, good morning. This new plan, the President’s latest effort to cut the number of immigrants coming to the U.S. It would prioritize English speakers as well as those with higher level job skills, marking what would be the biggest changes to this country’s legal immigration system in decades. But this remains a long shot, with some members of the President’s own party already saying it is a non-starter.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Heated Exchange Over Immigration; WH Clashes With Reporter Amid Plan]
President Trump declaring America’s immigration system broken.
DONALD TRUMP: It has not been fair to our people, to our citizens, to our workers.
ALEXANDER: Now embracing a new hardline proposal sponsored by two conservative Republican senators that would slash legal immigration by 50% in ten years, moving the U.S. to a system based on merit.
TRUMP: This competitive application process will favor applicants who can speak English, financially support themselves and their families, and demonstrate skills that will contribute to our economy.
(...)
Good Morning America
7:01 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But we are going to begin with the latest news from Washington, where the White House is facing backlash over that plan to cut the number of legal U.S. immigrants in half. There was heated debate in the briefing room yesterday over the Statue of Liberty and its meaning.
And this comes as a new poll shows the President’s approval rating at an all-time low. Just 33% of Americans think the President is doing a good job now. 61% disapprove.
ROBIN ROBERTS: And President Trump will meeting with his supporters tonight at a campaign-style rally in West Virginia. That rally of course coming as questions grow over the new immigration bill and our Senior White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega has the latest from Washington. Good morning, Cecilia.
CECILIA VEGA: Hi, Robin, good morning to you. President Trump says the legal immigration system in this country has not been fair to American workers and citizens, but both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill say the impacts on the economy from this proposal would be so negative, it’s a non-starter.
(...)
7:06 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Let’s get more now from our Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl this morning. And Jon, let’s start out with that poll we just showed it. 33% approval now for the President, an all-time low. And you see this happening as the President is now focusing solely – really on his core supporters, his hardcore Trump supporters, like with that immigration announcement yesterday.
JON KARL: Yeah, he still is popular among Republicans and this is clearly aimed at that base because, George, it is not based – is not aimed at actually passing something. That bill was first introduced by those two Republican senators back in February. It still doesn't have any other co-sponsors. I think that if that were brought up for a vote right now in the Senate, it would be lucky to get more than 30 votes. Certainly no chance of actually passing.
(...)
CBS This Morning
7:03 AM ET
CHARLIE ROSE: President Trump is backing a Republican plan to cut legal immigration in half. He faces strong opposition over what would be the most significant change to our immigration system in more than half a century.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The bill sponsored by Senate Republicans Tom Cotton and David Perdue is tilted toward highly trained immigrants. But it would make it harder for immigrants in the U.S. to bring their families along. The President spoke yesterday as a new poll shows 61 percent of Americans disapprove of his job performance. Thirty three percent approve. Major Garrett is at the White House with the bill that many critics are denouncing. Major, good morning.
MAJOR GARRETT: Good morning. Candidate Trump promised over and over to fix immigration. President Trump toyed with the idea of pushing comprehensive immigration reform, but for now is focusing on just one part of the system, the part appears least broken and has the most bipartisan support.
DONALD TRUMP: This legislation demonstrates our compassion for struggling American families who deserve an immigration system that puts their needs first and that puts America first.
GARRETT: President Trump called for deep cuts in legal immigration endorsing a bill that prioritizes green cards for wealthier applicants who speak English and have sought after job skills. The bill would also limit so-called chain migration where family members gain entry to the U.S. through lawful green card holders.
TRUMP: It's not been fair to our people, to our citizens, to our workers.
GARRETT: The proposal would reduce legal immigration from one million annually now to 500,000 annually within a decade. The administration argues the current system drives down wages for working-class Americans. But critics say favoring highly skilled workers creates a shortage of low wage workers.
(...)
