President Donald Trump don’t play.

Because of that fact, he does and (especially) says things some other presidents wouldn’t (here). Sometimes, in my estimation, he errs on the side of harshness — which is to say he, of course, does err. However, I find it a nice change from a leader who, on occasion, seemed soft and mushy as a marshmallow in Phoenix.

And Thanksgiving morning, Trump turned up the heat at the (beefed-up) border (here).

After speaking to America’s military stationed around the world, in response to a reporter’s question on the topic, the President made clear that the migrant caravan is going to become much larger, possibly unruly. And then…

…for better or worse, depending what side of the political aisle you ask…Donald laid it out in a way Barack never would’ve:

Troops at the border are authorized to use lethal force.

“If they have to, they are going to use lethal force — I’ve given the okay. … If they have to. I hope they don’t have to. But, you know, you are dealing with a minimum of 500 serious criminals. So I’m not going to let the military be taken advantage of. I have no choice. Do I want that to happen? Absolutely not. But you are dealing with rough people.”

To put it in southern terms: He’s Donald D*mn Trump!

But also:

Planning for a major problem is certainly well-reasoned: to penetrate Mexico’s legal points of entry, the caravan — numbering in the thousands — used violent tactics.

That’s deductive reasoning.

Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security shut down the San Ysidro Port of Entry in order to reinforce the fence, which was previously being climbed by members of the caravan (covered here).

This AM, all of #SanYsidro Port of Entry's northbound lanes were temporarily closed to initiate additional port hardening efforts after @CBP officials were notified that a large # of caravan migrants were planning to rush the border in an attempt to gain illegal access to the US.

— Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) November 19, 2018

Said U.S. Border and Customs Protection Monday:

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues to prepare for the potential arrival of thousands of people migrating in a caravan to the United States through the Southwest border. Part of those preparations include installation of temporary impediment measures at and between the Ports of Entry, such as concertina wire or Jersey barriers.”

Today I met with #SanDiego Mayor @Kevin_Faulconer to discuss security efforts along our southern border. Both @realDonaldTrump & @DHSgov are committed to the SD region’s security and keeping cross-border commerce moving as we address the migrant caravan. pic.twitter.com/CM0yP4H8KH

— Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) November 21, 2018

.@DHSgov & @CBP will not permit unlawful entry into the US at or b/n our ports of entry & will continue to take all possible actions to stop such entry at our border. We appreciate @DeptofDefense & @USNationalGuard for partnering w DHS on the border until the mission is complete. pic.twitter.com/8O4ZficJkE

— Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) November 21, 2018

According to NBC News, Trump signed a memo Wednesday officially authorizing deadly military force if needed:

“To carry out [the] mission (of protecting CBP’s performance of Federal functions), these deployed Department of Defense military personnel may perform those military protective activities that the Secretary of Defense determines are reasonably necessary to ensure the protection of Federal personnel, including a show or use of force (including lethal force, where necessary), crowd control, temporary detention, and cursory search.”

A mob is coming. Brace for impact.

Relevant RedState links in this article: here and here.

See 3 more pieces from me: Satan’s mom, Hillary Clinton vs. unfairness, and the man who called Tucker Carlson’s daughter the “C” word.

Find all my RedState work here.

And please follow Alex Parker on Twitter and Facebook.

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