"Donald J. Trump and President Biden will be at the border on Thursday in a split-screen moment previewing a key issue that will animate their likely rematch for the White House."

Caption under a photo at "The Politics Behind Trump and Biden’s Dueling Border Stops/In separate events along the border in Texas on Thursday, President Biden and Donald Trump will present contrasting goals, and clashing messages" (NYT).

For Mr. Trump, the border is a familiar backdrop and represents almost the background music of his candidacy, as he warns of a nation slipping out of reach and an “invasion” he promises to stop. For Mr. Biden, immigration represents a top vulnerability.... But Biden allies believe the recent decision by Republican congressional leaders — at Mr. Trump’s urging — to abandon a potential bipartisan border deal has provided the party a rare opening.... “If that bill were the law today, I’d shut down the border right now,” he said last month. Congressional Republicans have called on Mr. Biden to do so through executive powers.

Why are they there — Trump in Eagle Pass and Biden in Brownsville — on the same day? Obviously, one is deliberately stepping on the other's photo op.

Mr. Trump had announced his trip first and Mr. Biden followed, though the president said on Monday he was unaware his predecessor would be there. “What I didn’t know is my good friend, apparently, is going,” he said.

I considered calling Biden a liar, but: