Washington CNN  — 

President Donald Trump sought Monday to spin a Cher tweet commenting on both his proposal to deposit undocumented immigrants into so-called sanctuary cities and poverty levels in Los Angeles to his advantage, claiming support from the liberal singer.

Trump said he “finally” agrees with Cher, who departed from her usual anti-Trump tweets over the weekend to voice her concerns about bringing more immigrants into Los Angeles, when there are already so many citizens there living in poverty.

After Trump’s tweet, however, Cher responded, calling Trump an “ignorant thug with lizard brain.” She tweeted that Democrats “still don’t get it,” but that Trump is “playing butcher your enemies & create constant mayhem.”

Trump confirmed on Friday that his administration was looking at the idea of releasing immigrants into so-called sanctuary cities in part to retaliate against Democrats, undercutting earlier denials from his own administration officials.

Cher tweeted Sunday: “I Understand Helping struggling Immigrants,but MY CITY (Los Angeles) ISNT TAKING CARE OF ITS OWN.WHAT ABOUT THE 50,000+Citizens WHO LIVE ON THE STREETS.PPL WHO LIVE BELOW POVERTY LINE,& HUNGRY? If My State Can’t Take Care of Its Own(Many Are VETS)How Can it Take Care Of More?”

But the President has consistently called for cuts to the social safety net, despite his proclaimed agreement with the iconic singer.

Trump’s 2020 budget proposal, which outlines the administration’s priorities, called for cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – programs which Trump has vowed to protect from cuts since he was on the campaign trail. It also outlines cuts to food stamps and housing assistance.

Additionally, undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible for most federal social safety net programs.

They may be eligible for some programs “in dire situations,” according to the National Immigration Forum, a group that advocates “for the value of immigrants and immigration to our nation.”

Trump has long railed against “sanctuary” policies, and in response to reports of the latest considered moves, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the Trump administration of “using human beings – including little children – as pawns in their warped game to perpetuate fear and demonize immigrants.”

The term “sanctuary city” is a broad term generally taken to refer to locales that have limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and many of the largest cities in the country have such policies in place.

And though Trump on Monday signaled that he agreed with the singer’s concerns about moving migrants who can no longer be detained by immigration authorities to so-called sanctuary cities and states, he indicated that same day that he’ll be going through with a plan to do just that.

“Those Illegal Immigrants who can no longer be legally held (Congress must fix the laws and loopholes) will be, subject to Homeland Security, given to Sanctuary Cities and States!” Trump tweeted.