Speaker Mike Johnson says he speaks with Trump 'frequently' about border negotiations

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a central figure in border negotiations, said he has «frequently» discussed the issue with former President Donald Trump.

Johnson, who is digging in on hard-line demands for more restrictive reforms despite progress in the Senate on a bipartisan compromise, told Fox News that he and Trump talked about the matter on Monday — before Johnson and other congressional leaders convened at the White House for a meeting with President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

Trump has expressed opposition to any deal between Senate negotiators and the Biden administration.

«President Trump is not wrong,» Johnson told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Wednesday night. «He and I have been talking about this pretty frequently. I talked to him the night before last about the same subject.»

Johnson shortly after also appeared on CNN, where he told Kaitlan Collins that he speaks to Trump «every few days.»

Trump, in a social media post, singled out Johnson, writing he has «no doubt that our wonderful Speaker of the House… will only make a deal that is PERFECT ON THE BORDER.»

Johnson noted that there is no text out from the Senate on what they've worked out on immigration, and that «we have to reserve judgement to see what comes out of it.»

But pouring cold water on the developments, Johnson said on Fox: «It does not sound good at the outset.»

Democrats are contending Republicans don't want a border deal before the 2024 election, as it is proving to be a key wedge issue among voters.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said during a House Oversight Committee hearing earlier Wednesday — before Johnson's comments to Fox and CNN — that Republicans are «taking orders from Donald Trump and actively obstructing a bipartisan border deal.»

Sen. Chris