Democratic strategist James Carville and Fox News’s Sean Hannity got into an intense exchange Friday over the Biden administration’s work to curb mass shootings and migrant surges at the southern border.
Hannity pressed Carville, who served as an adviser for former President Clinton, on Vice President Harris’s record, noting that many Americans have been killed by those who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. He also attempted to connect the May 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, to the crisis at the border.
“We have never had illegal immigration at this level,” the news host said in the interview, “and I believe it’s a clear and present danger for you, for your family, for your children.”
Carville replied that Americans are also often killed by other Americans, and with legally purchased firearms.
“I would have great difficulty — as anyone would have — great difficulty, telling the parents in Uvalde how your children were slaughtered with a legal weapon that no one has any need to have,” Carville said.
Hannity interjected, “They would be alive … if we secured the border.”
“The border had nothing to do with this, please. Fact check me, please. Fact check me,” the Democratic pundit hit back. “The border had nothing to do with these mass shootings, with these AR-15.”
Carville acknowledged that the border policy under President Biden could be better. He pointed to the bipartisan border deal that was ready to be passed earlier this year, but was tanked by Republicans, a decision likely influenced by former President Trump’s call to vote it down.
“We all have difficult questions that we have to ask. Anybody can say that. We can sit in the peanut gallery and throw peanuts,” Carville said. “I think border crossings right now are about the same as they were when President Biden took office. Was there, I think ineffective border policy at one time? Yes.”
“But right now, when you look at Sen. Lankford and Sen. Murphy’s plan, that was negotiated and Donald Trump killed it. That’s a fact. Y’all can fact-check me,” he added.
Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) were the lead negotiators over the legislation.
Hannity also pressed Carville on the state of the country under Biden and Harris.
“Let me say this, it is better off than it was four years ago,” Carville said.