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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

Chaos in US Congress, Trump Minister Snaps at Representative: Don't Point at Me!

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A heated exchange occurred during a US House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Homeland Security budget and border policy.
  • Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro argued over migrant child separations and missing children.
  • The debate escalated with accusations of hypocrisy and a verbal threat from Mullin.

A budget hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives turned contentious as Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro engaged in a heated exchange. The confrontation occurred on Thursday during a session of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which was discussing the budget and immigration policies.

Three thousand nine hundred children were separated from their families.

— Rosa DeLauroRep. DeLauro raised the issue of child separations during the hearing.

The tension flared when DeLauro raised the issue of migrant children separated from their parents under previous federal policies, stating, "Three thousand nine hundred children were separated from their families." Mullin immediately interrupted her, countering with, "Four hundred fifty thousand children went missing under the Biden administration, and you haven't said a word."

The figure of 450,000 cited by Mullin refers to claims made by the Trump administration regarding unaccompanied migrant children entering the U.S. during President Joe Biden's term. These claims have been debated, as "missing" in this context often refers to children placed with sponsors or relatives, whose whereabouts are no longer directly monitored by the federal government.

Four hundred fifty thousand children went missing under the Biden administration, and you haven't said a word.

— Markwayne MullinSecretary Mullin responded to DeLauro's question by citing a figure related to unaccompanied minors.

The argument intensified as DeLauro urged Mullin not to interrupt, to which he responded sharply, "Don't point at me." DeLauro retorted, "I will point at you." Mullin then accused DeLauro of hypocrisy, saying, "Don't be a hypocrite." As DeLauro attempted to continue her line of questioning about child separations under the Trump administration, Mullin repeatedly interrupted, insisting she should also be concerned about the 450,000 children he mentioned.

Don't point at me.

— Markwayne MullinMullin reacted sharply when Rep. DeLauro attempted to direct her questions at him.

The situation became so heated that DeLauro asked the subcommittee chairman, Republican Mark Amodei, to intervene. Instead of de-escalating, Mullin issued a verbal threat, stating, "You need to be taught a lesson."

I will point at you.

— Rosa DeLauroDeLauro asserted her right to question the Secretary.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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