Trump joked military should come up with a Herman Cain-style ‘9-9-9 plan’ for border: report

President Trump joked that the U.S. should come up with a “9-9-9” plan for the U.S.-Mexico border in a meeting with military leaders where Herman Cain was present, The Washington Post reported Thursday, citing two people familiar with the event. 

{mosads}Trump plans to nominate Cain to the Federal Reserve Board. Four Republicans have said they would vote against Cain, essentially sinking his nomination.

Cain ran for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on a flat 9 percent tax plan, known as the “9-9-9” plan. 

Trump reportedly made the joke during a meeting in the the White House Situation Room, where Cain was present because he had a separate meeting with Trump and the president called him into the room. The meeting concerned the southern U.S. border, according to the Post.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment on the reported joke. 

Four women who worked for Cain at the National Restaurant Association accused him of sexual harassment at the time, sinking his presidential run and making him a controversial choice for the board. He denied the allegations.

White House officials have said that Cain’s nomination is subject to an FBI background check. 

Trump told reporters Wednesday that he hopes Cain “does well.” 

“He’s been a supporter of mine for a long time,” he said. “As to how he’s doing in the process, that I don’t know. You go through a process. But Herman is a great guy, and I hope he does well.”

U.S. immigration agencies have been turbulent in recent days. Kirstjen Nielsen, who headed the Department of Homeland Security, has left her position amid surging Customs and Border Protection apprehensions. Trump has made several policy proposals to address issues at the border, including building a wall and closing the border completely.