Trump hits back at John Kelly claiming all concrete border wall was ‘never abandoned’
The partial government shutdown precipitated by the president's $5 billion border wall funding request has gone on for 10 days
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President Donald Trump has hit back at claims his administration has abandoned its idea of erecting a concrete wall along the US-Mexico border,
In a tweet the president contradicted a claim from his his soon-to-be former chief of staff John Kelly that the White House has long since moved on from the “solid concrete wall” concept.
Mr Trump tweeted on Monday that an “all concrete Wall was NEVER ABANDONED, as has been reported by the media.”
In Mr Kelly’s interview with the Los Angeles Times, published on Sunday, the official said the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents told him—while he was serving as Homeland Security Secretary—that although it needs physical barriers on some parts of the border, it could largely benefit from new technology and additional personnel.
“To be honest, it’s not a wall,” Mr Kelly said, referring to Mr Trump’s campaign promise for a wall.
“The president still says ‘wall’ — oftentimes frankly he’ll say ‘barrier’ or ‘fencing,’ now he’s tended towards steel slats,” Mr Kelly added. “But we left a solid concrete wall early on in the administration when we asked people what they needed and where they needed it.”
In his tweet on Monday, the president also explained that Border Patrol agents also preferred a wall that is see through in some areas of the border
“Some areas will be all concrete but the experts at Border Patrol prefer a Wall that is see through (thereby making it possible to see what is happening on both sides),” Trump added. “Makes sense to me!”
Recently, Mr Trump claimed the wall would be “see-through” in some parts of the border, and has described the border wall as “fencing,” and said it would be “artistically designed” steel slates instead of concrete.
The tweets come on the heels of a government shutdown caused primarily by Mr Trump’s $5bn border wall funding request, a demand that has not been able to pass through Congress.
Democrats have offered Mr Trump with $1.3 billion for border security, but has shown no signs that it will give in to the president’s enormous funding request and border wall proposal.
As of Monday, the partial government shutdown reached its 10th day with no sign that it will anytime soon.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments