Berlin mayor tells Donald Trump walls cause 'division and suffering' as President puts Mexico plans into effect
'We Berliners know best how much suffering a wall can cause,' Michael Müller says
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.The mayor of Berlin has warned Donald Trump against repeating the “slavery and suffering” experienced by his own city with his planned Mexican border wall.
Michael Müller urged the new US President to remember his predecessor Ronald Regan’s famous appeal to “tear down” the communist-era Berlin Wall, adding: “Dear Mr President, don’t build this wall!”
He cited barriers in Korea and Cyprus as modern examples of the Iron Curtain that divided millions of Europeans during the Cold War.
“Berlin cannot look on without comment when a country plans to build a new wall,” Mr Müller said.
“We Berliners know best how much suffering the division of an entire continent, cemented by barbed wire and wall, has caused.”
The mayor said the destruction of the wall in 1989 was one of the most important moments of the 20th Century, and that such recent historical experiences must not be disregarded “particularly by those to whom we in large part owe our freedom, the Americans”.
“I appeal to the President of the United States not to go the way of isolation and exclusion,” he added.
Berlin was divided from 1961 by a wall constructed by the communist dictatorship in East Germany to stop its citizens from escaping to the West, becoming a potent symbol of Cold War oppression.
Mr Trump is aiming to fulfil his headline campaign promise by ordering American officials to begin designing and constructing a barrier along the 2,000 mile US-Mexico border.
Mexico has refused demands to pay for the project, causing the White House to threaten new taxes on Mexican imports to cover its cost, and President Enrique Pena Nieto to cancel a planned Washington visit in protest.
He and Mr Trump have since agreed to “work out their differences” over the issue.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments