Proving for many that former President Barack Obama is still running the show, Susan Rice, Obama’s former advisor, has been named as the “center” the President Biden’s disastrous approach to the U.S. border with Mexico.
According to a new report from Axios, titled “How Biden botched the border,” Rice “emerged as a central — and controversial — coordinator of the administration’s approach to the border.”
“Some officials found her needlessly combative and disagreed with her policy-wise,” Axios reports. “But even many of her critics credit her with taking on more responsibility on the border at a time when most other top Biden officials were shying away from it.”
There is, Axios continues, “deep animosity” between Rice and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra “for what was seen as his reluctance to find more space in child migrant shelters, which are overseen by HHS, according to several sources familiar with the dynamics.”
“Rice referred to Becerra as a ‘bitch-ass’ and privately called him an ‘idiot,’ according to multiple sources,” the outlet states. “During one meeting when Biden was tearing into Becerra, Rice passed [Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro] Mayorkas a note that read: ‘Don’t save him,’ according to two people familiar with the meeting.”
The “diplomat” has also reportedly clashed with the administration’s “Border Czar,” Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Rice appeared to others to take pride in being more informed on the border than Harris,” Axio reports. “Some Harris aides found Rice to be disrespectful toward the vice president and dismissively referred to the former UN ambassador as just a ‘staffer.'”
A spokesperson for Rice said she “categorically denies” the “reporting about her relationship with Becerra and Harris,” the outlet adds.
“Ouch….” remarked one user on X, referring to the border report. “And why are we not surprised Susan Rice (Obama’s besty) is in the middle of the debacle.”
Ouch…. And why are we not surprised Susan Rice (Obama’s besty) is in the middle of the debacle
— Rock/Hard Place (@txtarheeldad) February 12, 2024
According to Axios, President Biden recently “exploded with fury” over the border while aboard Air Force One.
“The president lit into his team, which included then-Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon, Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall and other immigration officials,” the outlet reports. “He demanded obscure immigration data points — and vented when his staff didn’t have them handy.”
The “previously unreported” outburst is “emblematic of the Biden administration’s struggle with the border crisis during the past three years — infighting, blame-shifting and indecision,” according to Axios. “Biden’s fury subsided, and aides scrambled for the information he wanted. People in the meeting later told others in frustration that his winding process and irritability were making it more difficult to reach decisions about the border.”
“The rolling chaos along the border has grown to the point that Biden now is embracing immigration policies he ran against in 2020 — such as restricting asylum laws and suggesting he’ll ‘shut down’ the border — as the crisis threatens his re-election,” Axios reports.
According to Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, the Axios exclusive is “brutal.”
“The article highlights a combination of infighting, incompetence, and indifference regarding the administration’s handling of the border over the last 3 years,” he noted on X.
NEW: Brutal new reporting from @axios in article titled “How Biden Botched the Border”.
– Biden exploded w/ rage at his team aboard AF1 on the way to border last year.
– Susan Rice called HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra a “bitch ass”& “idiot”.
– VP Harris’ team made it clear her…— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 12, 2024
It follows the impeachment of Mayorkas by the House and reports that Obama spied on Donald Trump’s associates in a “political espionage” campaign designed to cripple his presidency.
Obama’s CIA asked foreign allies to spy on 26 Trump associates, spun up Russia ‘collusion’ hoax, report says https://t.co/h3tmLtCPqg via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) February 15, 2024
“Americans we need to find out what Susan Rice ( domestic policy adviser ) know[s] about the border,” one X user said. “Congress needs to subpoena her to find out what her role is in the wide open border.”
Americans we need to find out what Susan Rice ( domestic policy adviser ) know about the border. Congress needs to subpoena her to find out what her role is in the wide open border. pic.twitter.com/YA4wsGFfxF
— cartwright joe (@cartwrightjoe3) February 14, 2024
But according to another user, nothing has been “botched” at the border.
Obiden has programmatically flooded the US with young foreign nationals. There is nothing “botched” about it.
There is no “incompetence” here. This has been a carefully planned invasion.
— Two3rdsNerd (@Two3rdsN) February 12, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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