‘Betrayal’: Trump supporters slam president’s ‘amnesty’ plan for farm workers
During a two-hour Cabinet meeting broadcast live Tuesday, President Trump once again talked about his plan to establish a program for illegal-alien farm and hospitality workers to remain in the U.S., despite his ongoing efforts at mass deportation, while many supporters of the president express dismay about this apparent loophole in his otherwise robust immigration ideology.
Trump was asked about critics saying the new plan amounts to amnesty for lawbreakers.
“There’s no amnesty,” said Trump during the meeting. “What we’re doing is we’re getting rid of criminals, but we are doing a work program.”
Then Agriculture Secretary Brook Robbins explained, “This morning [at a briefing] we talked about protecting the farmers and the farmland, but obviously this president’s vision of no amnesty, mass deportation continues – but in a strategic way, and then ensuring that our farmers have the labor that they need.”
“[Labor] Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has been a leader on this,” Rollins continued. “Obviously, this comes out of the Labor Department, but moving toward automation, ensuring that our farmers have that workforce, and moving toward an American workforce. So all of the above.”
President Trump: “There’s NO amnesty.” pic.twitter.com/jK1JrrZC6x
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) July 8, 2025
Several days ago, Trump first broached the subject of allowing some illegal aliens to stay to work in certain industries, saying he favors legislation to solidify the details.
Then on July 3 in Iowa, during a “Salute to America” event, the president said: “Farmers, look, they know better. They work with them for years. You had cases where, not year, but just even over the years where people have worked for a farm, on a farm for 14, 15 years, and they get thrown out pretty viciously, and we can’t do it. We gotta work with the farmers, and people that have hotels and leisure properties, too.”
In the speech, Trump acknowledge that some on the right would not appreciate the move, saying, “”Serious radical-right people, who I also happen to like a lot, they may not be quite as happy. But they’ll understand.”
Trump said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo: “What we’re going to do is, we’re going to do something for farmers where we can let the farmer sort of be in charge. The farmer knows he’s not going to hire a murderer.”
Backlash from his supporters has come from several sources.
According to Blaze Media, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis remarked, “No amnesty. No debate. No compromise.”
“There is no other issue the conservative base feels more passionately about than immigration,” responded Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA. “In just a few decades, everyday Americans have watched their country transform into a nation of strangers. We must deliver mass deportations, not amnesty.”
“Any sort of mass amnesty plan would result in a devastating midterm defeat for Republicans in Congress,” commentator Todd Starnes said.
Responses on X included:
“If you are letting them stay, it’s called amnesty.”
“It’s not amnesty, they’re just not going to deport them. What a sick joke.”
“This amnesty bill will be a complete BETRAYAL to the MAGA base, especially now that ICE has the budget to commence these promised mass deportations.”