WASHINGTON _ For the third time this week, President Donald Trump on Friday signaled support for immigration policy changes that would make it easier for seasonal farm workers to enter the United States.
Trump pleaded in a Friday morning tweet for someone to inform Speaker Nancy Pelosi that "her 'big donors' in wine country that people working on farms (grapes) will have easy access in!"
That came after he floated on Monday what his aides have called for in recent months, a rare break with his own hardline immigration stance in remarks to a farmers group. In that speech, the president said he wants to "actually make it easier for them to help the farmers because you need these people."
"A lot of people don't understand this. You need people to help you with the farms," he said Monday. "I'm not going to rule that out."
The president repeated a version of that during Thursday remarks at the Pentagon.
His endorsement of such changes could be a fig leaf to Democrats and part of any potential eventual deal to end the partial government shutdown that is in its 28th day. Talks remain stalled, however, as the sides are far apart on Trump's proposed border barrier.
Self-interest almost might be in play. Trump owns a winery in Virginia, and has sought workers through the seasonal farmworker program run by the Labor Department, according to past reports.
