Watch: College students bash Trump for sending troops to border — then learn Obama did same thing

Cabot Phillips, Campus Reform’s media director, recently interviewed students at the University of California, Santa Barbara, about President Donald Trump's decision to send military troops to the Mexico border.

The majority of students were quick to criticize Trump's move, but were surprised to learn former President Barack Obama had done the same thing several years ago.

What did they say?

Here is what the students said:

“I feel like it’s not justified, mostly because it is like a totally uncalled-for act of power.”

“Definitely disapprove. I don’t know. It just puts a bad light on America."

“Not productive. I’m not a huge fan of the military to begin with. We’re spending way too much money on that. I think it would be a complete waste of money.”

“It’s not resonating well with me, at least.”

“I don’t think it’s good to send militarized troops to people who are coming in unarmed.”

“I don’t want there to be any loss of life. Like, that seems to be the only goal here.”

The report did not name the students who were interviewed.

What about Obama's action?

After Phillips told the students Obama also sent troops to the border, many of them became very quiet.

“Honestly I’m not super up-to-date with politics, so I didn’t know that.”

“I did not know that. I mean, yeah, that’s kind of surprising.”

Some of the students said media coverage can impact their view of what Trump does:

“When President Obama did it, I suppose there was different coverage as to what the intentions were.”

“The difference is definitely with publicity and with false information.”

Earlier this month, Trump ordered National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, in an effort to fight illegal immigration. However, the troops are expected to have no physical contact with immigrants, according to published reports.

In 2010, Obama sent 1,200 members of the National Guard to border, according to reports.