At the start of their first terms in Congress, Republican Brandon Gill and Democrat Julie Johnson discuss President Trump’s executive actions and their effects on the border with FOX 4’s Steven Dial.
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U.S. Reps. Brandon Gill and Julie Johnson sat down with Fox 4’s Steven Dial to reflect on the inauguration.
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The two newly minted representatives discussed working with the other party on key issues.
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Both chimed in on the Trump executive order that would eliminate birthright citizenship.
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U.S. Reps. Brandon Gill and Julie Johnson sat down with Fox 4’s Steven Dial to reflect on the inauguration.
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The two newly minted representatives discussed working with the other party on key issues.
-
Both chimed in on the Trump executive order that would eliminate birthright citizenship.
DallasPresident Donald Trump returned to the White House after the inauguration and immediately got to work issuing executive orders.
After the inauguration and the initial executive order waves, two Texas first-year lawmakers spoke with Steven Dial of FOX 4 about their first inauguration experiences and the effects of Trump’s orders on immigration and border security.
On Monday, January 20, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed executive orders during a signing ceremony in the White House Oval Office in Washington, DC, USA. President Donald Trump gave a forceful inauguration speech to begin his second administration that vo
The Inauguration
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Tx.): “It’s unbelievable, you know. We are in a new period of American greatness, as President Trump stated in his inaugural address while in the Capitol Rotunda yesterday. He is rescuing us from the gloom that has surrounded us for the last four years.
Rep. Julie Johnson, a Democrat from Texas: “I felt obligated to attend the inauguration. As you may know, I was elected to the US Congress by the people of Texas 32, the wonderful state of Texas. It also concerns the peaceful transition of power, which is one of the core tenets of our democracy. Whether you win or lose, elections are about accepting the results. And even though I certainly did not vote for President Trump in the election, I still believe that we must stand behind our democratic government if we are to be good stewards, support the peaceful transition of power, and defend its fundamentals.”
The Southern Border
Gill: “Over the past four years, millions of illegal aliens have been flooding across the border, posing a serious threat to our nation. The majority of them are arriving with false asylum claims.
“I introduced the Remain in Mexico Act last week. And that makes President Trump’s executive order to stay in Mexico a legal document. We cannot allow a future Democrat to take over and reverse all of the executive directives that President Trump has been implementing to safeguard us against illegal aliens, so Congress must take this action. We currently have more than 100 co-sponsors, including two new Democrats. This is a significant problem. During this election cycle, this was one of the most important concerns. The Republican Party has a clear mandate to secure the border.
Johnson: “You know, that’s really unsettling because he targeted those who were legally immigrating to this country. Like everyone else, I support a crackdown on illegal immigration. Our border must be secure. We cannot allow individuals to travel to Texas by swimming the Rio Grande. However, these were folks who had completed the application, were awaiting their turn, had their legal appointment, and were attempting to do it correctly. He simply sliced them at the knees.
“People from Afghanistan, who truly were the right arms of our soldiers and women who were serving in Afghanistan and who risked their lives to aid U.S. troops there process their wait in line, were another set of people impacted. All of their appointments were also canceled. Therefore, I just believe that he made a swap that was too large and in this order, and I oppose it.”
Ending Birthright Citizenship and the 14th Amendment
Gill: “You have undocumented immigrants entering the nation, giving birth, and then using the American resources to stay in the country afterward. President Trump is pushing back and halting birthright citizenship because it is a flagrant abuse of our immigration system. is, in my opinion, a fantastic starting point.
The 14th Amendment has historically dealt with slavery. The false asylum claims made by illegal aliens to establish themselves in this nation have nothing to do with it. That, in my opinion, is an outdated perspective on birthright citizenship. Therefore, no, I don’t. I believe that this will go to court, but in the end, I believe that it will be sustained.”
Johnson: “I believe that the birthright citizenship executive order issued by Trump is wholly illegal. Additionally, I believe that Representative Gill is clearly misinformed on that matter. Additionally, he might want to enroll in a few legal classes. You know, I believe that the Constitution makes it quite clear that you are a citizen of this country if you were born here. Additionally, there is a great deal of precedent on that. Therefore, I do not believe that President Trump has the legal right to unilaterally change constitutional rights and protections. There is a procedure for such, which means that two-thirds of the states must ratify it after it passes Congress. I believe that his executive order is wholly unconstitutional and should not stand up.
On Both Sides, Working Across Party Lines
Gill: “I don’t believe Democrats are necessary to pass our goals. Over the last four years, Democrats had their chance. Without them, I believe we can pass it. Now, if. Democrats are willing to compromise and collaborate with Republicans. The American people will profit from securing our border, unleashing our energies, lowering inflation, and putting an end to the weird, strange, and perverse things that they are forcing on us. Then, they are most welcome. However, our mandate is very clear. Our purpose is to carry out.
Johnson: “I’m accustomed to the Republican trifecta in the Texas legislature, as you are aware. I’ve been in the Texas House for six years, and that’s all I’ve had. Additionally, we are still able to pass important laws pertaining to health care, first responders, and other topics. In my opinion, cooperation is necessary in the US Congress. The problem with Congress is that it changes sides more often than the Texas legislature. As a result, many of my Republican coworkers say, “You may need me right now, but I’ll need you tomorrow.”
“In my meetings and interactions with people, I’ve discovered a genuine desire to attempt to collaborate with me. And I’m thrilled to have that chance. I believe that those that come here to pass legislation are more moderate and understand that both Democrats and Republicans can have solid ideas. On the other hand, both sides may have bad ideas. However, I believe that the vast majority of the nation’s citizens want us to be striving toward that shared middle ground. I’m definitely in that position, and I’ve discovered that many of my Republican colleagues are in the same one.”
Texas: The Issue Is is available on TV every Sunday night and at any time on FOX LOCAL.
The Origin:Interviews with Representatives Julie Johnson and Brandon Gill provided the information for this piece.
