Abbott says nationalizing Texas National Guard would be severe Biden ‘political blunder’

by Lauren Irwin - 01/30/24 10:03 AM ET

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said it would be a severe “political blunder” if President Biden were to nationalize the Texas National Guard amid the ongoing power struggle between the state and administration over the southern border.

“This is the No. 1 issue in America. Americans want a secure border. If Joe Biden federalizes our National Guard, that would be the biggest political blunder that you can make, and that’s why I think he will not do it,” Abbott told Fox News’s Sean Hannity on Monday.

“That said, of course, I am prepared in the event that they do make such a blunder to make sure that Texas will be able to continue to secure our border,” he continued.

Abbott previously said he would be “shocked” if Biden were to federalize the state’s National Guard but has maintained that he is prepared in the “unlikely event” that he does so.

Last week, the Texas National Guard appeared to ignore a U.S. Supreme Court decision that cleared the way for Border Patrol to remove razor wire installed along the U.S.-Mexico border by the state, and continued construction along the border. Abbott has justified his decision and criticized Biden for not enforcing immigration laws.

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Republican governors in multiple states have backed Abbott in his standoff against the federal government. In the Monday interview, Abbott thanked his fellow GOP governors and said “half of American now is standing against the Biden administration.”

The Texas governor has repeatedly said the increased roles of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard at the border are part of the state’s constitutional authority to defend itself against invasion.

“So, Texas has every constitutional right in this case, and I believe, when the sun sets on this, Texas will be vindicated, and the Constitution will be strengthened,” he said.