Senate border negotiations forge ahead despite pressure from Trump

A bipartisan deal that would pair assistance to Ukraine and Israel with measures to improve border security is facing serious political threats as negotiators aim to finalize a deal.

The talks seemed on the verge of collapse Wednesday after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested the politics around the agreement have shifted, but negotiators have vowed to forge ahead.

Punchbowl News first reported that McConnell told Republican senators the politics "have changed" because former President Trump wants to build his reelection campaign around immigration."We don't want to do anything to undermine him," McConnell reportedly said.

A spokesperson for the minority leader did not dispute the Punchbowl report when NPR asked for comment.

McConnell's comments deflated hopes that a deal could be made public this week. Negotiators told reporters as early as Monday that they were nearing a final agreement on outstanding issues like parole for asylum seekers.

But McConnell appeared to back away from his comments on Thursday, telling reporters he still supports the talks.

The border agreement has been explicitly tied to security funding for Israel and Ukraine and any failure could threaten chances of Congress passing that aid. President Biden agreed to couple his funding request with border security elements at the behest of Republicans, including McConnell.

Deputy White House Press Secretary Olivia Dalton told reporters Thursday that the White House remains committed to getting deal on border and national security funding.

"The president has been clear, we need action on the border," Dalton told reporters aboard Air Force One. "We've been engaging in good faith, bipartisan negotiations with both Senate Democrats and Senate