Trump Reaffirms That Mexico Will Eventually Pay for the Wall

After different media outlets reported that it looked as though Trump was taking back his campaign vow to build the Mexico border wall with funds from Mexico, Trump took to Twitter on Friday to defend his future plans. 

“Top aides reportedly are considering a plan to ask Congress to ensure money is available in U.S. coffers for the wall, while relying on existing law that already authorizes fencing and other technology along the southern border. The funding development was cast in some outlets as a reversal by Trump on his promise to stick Mexico with the bill,” writes Fox News.

Trump called the media “dishonest” and pointed out that he still plans to get Mexico to pay back the U.S. on any costs spent to build the wall. 

“The dishonest media does not report that any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!” tweeted Trump on Friday morning. 

Trump’s senior adviser Kellyanne Conway reiterated this on Fox & Friends when she said Trump is not going back on his promise and that he will still have Mexico pay for the wall in some form. 

“Obviously, a centerpiece of Donald Trump’s successful campaign was ‘I’m going to build the wall and have Mexico pay for it.’ He is going to build that wall, and Mexico is going to pay for it,” said Conway. “That has not changed.” 

She also addressed the recent media reports that congress is considering funding the project. “But Congress is examining ways … to have the wall paid for through their auspices. The president-elect is making the point that he will have Mexico pay it back.” 

President-elect Trump consistently pledged that he would build a giant wall along the U.S. southern border as a method to limit illegal immigration. 

“Mr. Trump outlined a payment plan last April in which one option would entail tightening controls on remittance payments by Mexican workers back to their families and redefining rules on wire transfers to require customers to prove they are legally in the U.S.,” writes The Washington Times. “Mexico would object and would be told the final rule wouldn’t be imposed if they paid for the wall, according to the plan.”

However, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto said that Mexico wouldn’t be paying for the wall after meeting with Trump in August. Trump said after the meeting that they did not discuss the subject of payment since it was just an initial get together. 

But, this was before Trump was elected. Although Trump is likely to face some opposition from Congress, there are some steps that he can take without the legislature’s approval. 

“There’s a lot of things that can be done within current law,” said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., an advocate of immigration reform. “You cannot minimize the potential impact of the administration doing what they can do under the law.”

Trump has already shown that he can make seemingly impossible deals happen with the Carrier deal, so let’s see what he can do with Mexico once in office. 

Author’s note: This just shows that Trump is not only keeping another campaign promise, but he is going to always set the story straight. 

Editor’s note: Its refreshing to have a politician in office who has the strength of his convictions. The issue of Republicans and the wall is similar to the issue of Democrats and Global Warming. Lots of lip service but when it comes to action it just slips off the table.