Donald Trump is holding a rally Monday night to make his case for building a wall along the U.S.- Mexico border, traveling to El Paso, Texas, as congressional negotiators continue to haggle over border security funding to avert another shutdown by a Friday deadline.

Trump did discuss his wall of course, his hatred of Democrats, and all the normal stuff.

But he also strangely talked about dogs, and explained why he doesn’t own one.

Trump started by saying, “By the way, there is nothing better than a good old-fashioned German shepherd. It’s hard to believe. It’s true.”

He continued, “Certain types of dogs. You do love your dogs, don’t you? I wouldn’t mind having one, honestly, but I don’t have any time. How would I look walking a dog on the White House lawn?…Feels a little phony to me…That’s not the relationship I have with my people.”

Trump says he’s been advised to get a dog because it’s good politically, but “that’s not the relationship I have with my people,” his base.

Twitter quickly reacted:

I'm not in favor of Donald Trump getting a dog.

No dog deserves that.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) February 12, 2019

TRUMP: It would look phony for me to walk a dog.

a. cause Trump doesn't walk
b. cause Trump doesn't love anything or anyone, but Trump
c. cause constant dog whistling by Trump would make dog stop walking
d. cause Trump has no time, but executive time.

— Jeremy Newberger (@jeremynewberger) February 12, 2019

Trump on getting a dog, in summary:
– I wouldn't mind one but I don't have any time
– It would look phony for me to walk a dog
– My base doesn't need to see me with a dog

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 12, 2019

Later, "How would I look walking a dog on the White House lawn? …. Feels a little phony to me." Someone notes Obama had a dog. "OBama had a dog, you're right," Trump laughs. Then starts reading prompter again. "Both parties must come together" on immigration.

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) February 12, 2019

At the moment, Trump is attacking dog ownership. That's a new one.

— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) February 12, 2019

trump saying he doesnt have time to own/walk a dog..

he doesnt even have time for his own kid barron… probably just tosses chicken nuggets under the door at him. #MAGA

— Roy (@splashroy) February 12, 2019

WATCH:

“A lot of people say, ‘oh, you should get a dog.’ ‘Why?’ ‘It’s good politically…’” Pres. Trump said at his Texas rally.

After someone appears to call out “Obama” in the crowd Mr. Trump responded, “Obama had a dog, you're right.”https://t.co/gfgGz0JM1u pic.twitter.com/jdXV10EFbD

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 12, 2019