CNN anchor Abby Phillip credited President Donald Trump’s administration Thursday with presenting “good optics” to prove to American voters that they have upheld their campaign promises.
The panelists agreed that the Trump administration has succeeded at using visuals to appeal to the American people, particularly on the handling of the U.S.-Mexico border. Phillip argued that the images of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arresting illegal immigrants with criminal records conveys the message that “promises were made, promises kept.”
“Here’s the thing. Whether you support Trump or you don’t, the imagery projects promises made, promises kept on immigration,” Phillip said. “Even the liberals understand and believe that Trump is carrying out that promise, and part of it is the way he is doing it, using military airplanes, doing it on camera, taking Dr. Phil along with him.”
Phillip told former Harris campaign senior adviser Adrienne Elrod that former President Joe Biden would have benefitted from the same use of these optics throughout his term. Elrod, agreeing with Phillip, argued that Democrats should emulate the January 6 Select Committee’s use of visuals in order to “capture the attention” of independent and swing voters.
Former Republican National Committee spokesperson Madison Geslotto said it would have been highly difficult to have good optics for Biden, and argued that it is working for Trump because he is upholding his campaign promises.
READ: House Democrats Denied Access To Department Of Education Amid Reports Of Potential Dismantling
“I think the reason the optics are working so well for President Trump is just because of what Abby said, he made all of these promises, whether you like them or not. This is what he promised to voters on the campaign trail throughout this cycle, he’s doing exactly what he said he’d do and not only is he doing it, he’s doing it at a speed that I don’t think a lot of Republicans expected,” Geslotto said.
During his campaign, Trump promised to carry out the largest mass deportation operation of illegal immigrants in U.S. history, reduce the size of the federal government, eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the federal government and end birthright citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants.
Since Trump took office, ICE agents have carried out mass arrests throughout the U.S. and in sanctuary states, particularly those with heinous criminal records. Agents arrested over 7,400 illegal immigrants as of Saturday, though that number continues to climb.
The president signed executive orders on his first day in office to declare a national emergency at the southern border, revoke the birthright citizenship status for children born to illegal immigrants, end the Biden-era catch and release policy and reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy.
READ: Michigan Rep. Laurie Pohutsky Announces Sterilization In Protest Against Trump Admin
Footage and images have shown ICE agents and border czar Tom Homan conducting raids in several areas of the U.S., which has led to hundreds of arrests in a single day. One video showed ICE agents arresting a gang member from Haiti with 17 prior convictions in Boston, Massachusetts, along with several other illegal migrants who had been convicted of serious crimes.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
First published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
