Trump brands Ann Coulter a ‘wacky nut job’ over border wall criticism

President claims ‘major sections’ of barrier are under construction while hitting out at his one-time ally

Donald Trump has rounded on former ally Ann Coulter, branding the right-wing commentator a “wacky nut job” over her criticism of his inability to secure funding for a border wall.

The president defended the apparent lack of progress on his signature policy during a string of tweets on Saturday, taking aim at Coulter in particular.

“Wacky Nut Job @AnnCoulter, who still hasn’t figured out that, despite all odds and an entire Democrat Party of Far Left Radicals against me (not to mention certain Republicans who are sadly unwilling to fight) I am winning on the Border,” he wrote.

“Major sections of Wall are being built… and renovated, with MUCH MORE to follow shortly.

“Tens of thousands of illegals are being apprehended (captured) at the Border and NOT allowed into our Country.

“With another President, millions would be pouring in. I am stopping an invasion as the Wall gets built. #MAGA”

Coulter, who had at one time been a supporter of the president, has been outspoken in her criticism of his unsuccessful attempts at striking a deal in Congress to fund a wall on the US border with Mexico.

She has previously described Mr Trump as a “gutless president in a wall-less country”.

After he agreed to end the record-breaking government shutdown caused by a dispute with Democrats over funding for the wall in January, Coulter said Mr Trump was now the “biggest wimp” to serve as president.

Despite the president’s promises to construct a barrier running the 1,954-mile length of the border, little progress has been made on the ground.

Work has almost been completed to replace 40 miles of existing structures in multiple locations, while a construction of a 14-mile barrier in the Rio Grande Valley began last month.

Mr Trump will again make a significant request for border wall funds in the White House budget being released next week, an administration official said.

For the first time, the president plans to stick with the strict spending caps imposed years ago, even though lawmakers have largely avoided them with new budget deals.

The budget will propose serious cuts in safety net programmes, which are used by many Americans, and other non-defence accounts. Those measures will likely trigger a showdown with Congress.

It is unclear how much more money the president will seek to build the wall with Mexico.

The request is coming on top of the $8.1bn (£6.2bn) Mr Trump already has access to, which includes some $3.6bn he’s trying to shift from military accounts after declaring a national emergency.

The president invoked the emergency declaration last month after Congress denied his request for $5.7bn (£4.4bn). Instead, Congress approved nearly $1.1bn for the border barriers, far less than he wanted.

Additional reporting by AP