Sen. James Lankford revealed that a popular right-wing media figure threatened to "destroy" him if he moved a sweeping immigration bill before the presidential election, with MAGA radio host Jesse Kelly taking credit for the threat. Despite intense negotiations and Republican demands for stringent border security measures, the bill was torpedoed by former President Donald Trump and his allies. Lankford criticized his GOP colleagues for not solving problems, and conservative media figures have worked to undermine the bill, misrepresenting its provisions. Trump has also falsely claimed he never endorsed Lankford for his Senate election.
Sen. James Lankford revealed that a major conservative media figure threatened to "destroy" him if he helped solve the border crisis during the 2024 presidential election, prior to the details of his bipartisan border deal being made public. The deal, which aimed to expand security funding at the border and provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and other allies, faced pushback from former President Donald Trump and conservative pundits. Lankford disclosed the threat on the Senate floor and expressed that the commentator had followed through on their promise to "destroy" him in the past several weeks.
Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma revealed that some fellow Republicans objected to a bipartisan border security deal for political reasons, with one unnamed "popular commentator" threatening to "destroy" him if he negotiated the deal during a presidential election year. Right-wing media outlets promoted false claims about the deal, and some Republicans admitted that politics was a key factor in their decision-making. The expected failure of the deal means the Senate will likely move on to a bill providing aid to Ukraine and Israel without any border security provisions.
The Oklahoma Republican Party passed a resolution condemning Sen. James Lankford for his involvement in bipartisan border negotiations, accusing him of jeopardizing the security and liberty of Oklahomans. The resolution reflects the GOP's reluctance to undermine former President Donald Trump, who opposes the compromise deal. Lankford, however, remains positive about the deal and dismisses misinformation about its content, while the text of the compromise border deal is expected to go to the Senate floor soon.
The Oklahoma Republican Party has censured Sen. James Lankford for his involvement in a bipartisan border deal, accusing him of working with Democrats on an "open-border deal." The resolution passed by the state committee condemns Lankford's actions and calls for him to cease jeopardizing border security. Lankford, who has been working on the border deal with bipartisan senators, has defended his efforts, while the resolution has sparked controversy within the Oklahoma Republican Party. President Biden has expressed support for the potential bipartisan agreement, which would grant the executive branch new powers to address migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Oklahoma Republican Party passed a resolution condemning Sen. James Lankford's work on a bipartisan border deal, criticizing his collaboration with Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer and alleging that the deal would compromise national security. Former OKGOP Chairman Anthony Ferate disputed the legitimacy of the meeting, claiming it did not represent the voice of all Oklahoma Republicans. Lankford defended his efforts to strengthen border security, while the resolution stated that the party will cease support for Lankford until he stops his actions.
