Rick Perry Won’t Shake Obama’s Hand, Wants Substantive Meeting Instead

President agreed to meet with Texas governor on Wednesday to discuss crisis along U.S.-Mexico border, according to governor’s office

Texas Governor Rick Perry
Office of the Governor

Texas Governor Rick Perry has no interest in meeting President Barack Obama on the tarmac for a handshake and a photo-op. Obama will be arriving in Austin on Wednesday for a Democratic fundraiser.

His office indicated that he’d received the invite from the White House, according to media reports, but opted to reject it. Instead he proposed a counter-offer in a letter to the president.

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“I appreciate the offer to greet you at Austin-Bergstrom Airport, but a quick handshake on the tarmac will not allow for a thoughtful discussion regarding the humanitarian and national security crises enveloping the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas,” Perry wrote on Monday. “I would instead offer to meet with you at any time during your visit to Texas for a substantive meeting to discuss this critical issue.”

On Tuesday evening, the president agreed to sit down with Perry to talk about the border situation on Wednesday, the White House confirmed to the press in a briefing. The meeting will take place in Dallas.

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week” this past Sunday, Perry said, “I don’t believe [President Obama] particularly cares whether or not the border of the United States is secure.” He went on to say, “I have to believe when you do not respond in any way, you are either inept or have some ulterior motive that you are functioning from.”

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