NY Times: Trump Wanted a Snake-Filled Waterway at Mexican Border

 

A New York Times report says that the American president has suggested unusual, and even illegal, methods for preventing illegal immigration at the southern border.

Among Donald Trump²’s reported proposals was a waterway along the U.S. border with Mexico that could be filled with dangerous animals like alligators³ and snakes.

The newspaper also says the president suggested that American soldiers shoot migrants in the legs if they try to enter the US. Members of the president’s staff reportedly advised the president that such acts would be illegal.

The article was adapted from a new book by two New York Times reporters, called “Border Wars: Inside Trump’s Assault on Immigration.”

The Times says it based its story on interviews with more than 10 White House officials. Those officials met with Trump to discuss ways to stop illegal migration¹ from Central America.

The story centers on a meeting in March at the White House. During the meeting, Trump ordered the closure of the 3,200-kilometer long border with Mexico by the middle of the following day.

White House aides and advisors⁴, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner and former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, tried to talk the president out of it.

Trump is reported as shouting to those in attendance, “You’re making me look like an idiot...I ran on this. It’s my issue.” As a presidential candidate, Trump promised to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Times reports it took almost a week for aides to talk him out of the idea, saying it would be economically destructive.

On Wednesday, the President made note of the report on Twitter, writing, “I may be tough on border security, but not that tough. The press has gone crazy. Fake News!”

Trump returned to the issue later at a press appearance with the president of Finland. “Never said it…never thought of it,” Trump said of the statements attributed to him in the New York Times story.

Trump also mistakenly blamed the Washington Post and two of its reporters for the news story and book. He then condemned⁵ the Post as corrupt⁶ and a “disgrace.”

He described the story as “a total lie. It was corrupt reporting.”

I'm Caty Weaver⁷.

Words in This Story

adapt - v. to change (a movie, book, play, etc.) so that it can be presented in another form

interview - n. a meeting between a reporter and another person in order to get information for a news story

idiot - n. a very stupid or foolish person

bias⁸ - n. a tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others that usually results in treating some people unfairly

disgrace - n. the condition of feeling ashamed or of losing or becoming unworthy of respect or approval

1 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

2 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

3 alligators   

n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Two alligators rest their snouts on the water's surface. 两只鳄鱼的大嘴栖息在水面上。 来自辞典例句
• In the movement of logs by water the lumber industry was greatly helped by alligators. 木材工业过去在水上运输木料时所十分倚重的就是鳄鱼。 来自辞典例句

4 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

5 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

6 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

7 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

8 bias   

n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见

参考例句：

• They are accusing the teacher of political bias in his marking.他们在指控那名教师打分数有政治偏见。
• He had a bias toward the plan.他对这项计划有偏见。