1. President Trump recently promised to delay an order to close the southern border. A few days later, he urged an official to do it anyway.

The conversation with Kevin McAleenan, whom Mr. Trump was about to name acting secretary of Homeland Security, came last week on the heels of Kirstjen Nielsen’s refusal to move forward with the closure before she resigned as secretary. Mr. Trump also told Mr. McAleenan that he would pardon him if he encountered any legal problems as a result of taking the action. Above, an asylum seeker waits in Tijuana, Mexico.