In a forthcoming book by Miles Taylor, a prominent ex-official from the Trump administration known for his critique of Trump under the pseudonym ‘Anonymous’, a peculiar plan proposed by Donald Trump is revealed. Apparently, Trump suggested ranchers employ ladders to assist their cattle in crossing the border wall.
Trump, currently seeking the Republican nomination for President, centered his 2016 presidential campaign around stringent immigration policies. These included erecting a physical wall on the southern border, imposing a travel ban primarily affecting countries with a Muslim majority, and implementing a “zero tolerance” policy which resulted in the separation of children from their parents.
Taylor, who served as the chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security, has expressed concern that another term with Trump or a successor echoing his ‘Make America Great Again’ sentiment could be even more detrimental.
While serving as President, Trump frequently directed briefings towards his “preferred topic” and brainstormed a “series of harshly creative immigration policies”, as stated by Taylor in his soon-to-be-published book.
According to Taylor’s narrative, Trump, in a surprising outburst during a meeting on March 7, 2019, expressed his dissatisfaction over Texas ranchers being permitted to use doors in the border wall for their cattle to reach the Rio Grande.
Rejecting the concept of doors in the border wall, Trump, as reported by Taylor, commented, “What lunacy is this? Doors in the border wall? That’s ridiculous. All they need to do is approach, open the door, and countless unauthorized entrants flood in.”
When Kirstjen Nielsen, then Secretary of Homeland Security, refuted Trump’s claim, he dismissed her argument and instructed his team to procure any land where ranchers could access the Rio Grande.
Taylor quotes Trump as saying, “Just purchase the land. Nobody knows land better than I do. Let’s make it happen, shall we?” and added “Distribute ladders to the ranchers. They can use them to cross the wall, but no doors. Perhaps small fire trucks could be used. Contact local fire departments and utilize the ladders on their trucks for assistance.”
Taylor recalls thinking how bafflingly ill-conceived this plan was at the time.
Trump further justified the need for this plan, as in his words, Mexico “is a dreadful place.”
Taylor writes that Trump was becoming consumed by his fixation on the border. He regularly made disparaging remarks about immigrants, labelled them as “criminals and rapists”, and expressed anger when his propositions were not executed.
In another meeting on March 28, 2019, Taylor remembers Trump expressing dissatisfaction with the troops he deployed to patrol the border, suggesting that they should employ lethal force. However, the Pentagon had advised Trump against discussing “shooting migrants.”
Taylor writes, “When it comes to Trump, reality always outstrips the absurdity of fiction. His time was spent more on devising ludicrous plans for the border rather than concentrating on his presidential duties. These ideas ranged from foolish to illegal, and frequently, they were both.”
In 2018, Taylor anonymously penned a critical op-ed about Trump in The New York Times, titled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration”. He revealed his identity in 2020 while campaigning against Trump’s re-election. Currently, Taylor is part of the politically moderate Forward Party.
