Tag: Trump wall

Trump vents frustration over wall funding, fueling uncertainty over shutdown

President Trump on Thursday blamed Congress for refusing his request for border-wall funding, fueling uncertainty about whether he will sign a spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown.

“When I begrudgingly signed the Omnibus Bill, I was promised the Wall and Border Security by leadership. Would be done by end of year (NOW). It didn’t happen! We foolishly fight for Border Security for other countries – but not for our beloved U.S.A. Not good!” he tweeted.

Trump also planned to meet with House Republicans at noon to discuss plans to avoid a shutdown, which have been thrown into disarray by the president’s change of heart.

View the complete December 20 article by Jordan Fabian on The Hill website here.

GOP leaders still lack funding plan as shutdown looms

House Republicans are eager to give Trump his wall, but it’s not clear how they’ll get there amid low morale among departing GOP lawmakers.

Top House Republicans are at a standstill on exactly how to keep the government open next week amid mounting fears of a Christmastime shutdown on Capitol Hill.

House GOP leaders couldn’t agree on a funding strategy — which involves billions of dollars for President Donald Trump’s border wall — in multiple rounds of talks Wednesday.

The House is now poised to leave town Thursday for five days without offering a clue to how it would avoid a crippling funding lapse for roughly a dozen agencies.

View the complete December 12 article by Sarah Ferris and John Breshahan on the Politico.com website here.

Trump Plots Potemkin Wall

The following article by Lou Dubose was posted on the Washington Spectator website September 28, 2017:

image: Edel Rodriguez

In January 2018, contractors working for the Department of Homeland Security will begin to fulfill what Donald Trump has promised: building “a big, beautiful wall” that will separate the United States of America from Los Estados Unidos de Mexico. The path of least resistance to breaking ground on the first segment of the controversial border barrier runs through the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, 2,080 acres of richly biodiverse federal land on a meandering stretch of the Rio Grande in South Texas.

What has played out in South Texas over the past several months is a prelude to Donald Trump’s larger wall-building project, as the DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection play fast and loose with the rules, and muscle anyone who gets in their way. Continue reading “Trump Plots Potemkin Wall”

Mexico offers hurricane help; No decision on whether to accept it

The following article by Anne Gearan was posted on the Washington Post website August 29, 2017:

President Trump receives a briefing Tuesday on Harvey relief efforts with Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (right) at the Texas Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center in Austin. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Mexico has offered assistance in the massive disaster response in next-door Texas, the State Department said late Tuesday, but there has been no decision on whether to accept the help.

The Mexican government made a formal offer of help Tuesday as the United States copes with the effects of Hurricane Harvey, the State Department said in response to questions about Mexico’s role.

It is not clear whether Mexico is offering relief supplies, equipment or money. Any such assistance could put President Trump in an awkward spot, since he has insisted that Mexico would pay for a new border wall he promised as a candidate, perhaps through some sort of reimbursement. Continue reading “Mexico offers hurricane help; No decision on whether to accept it”

Trump’s Wall Plan Ignores Immigration Realities

The following article by Cynthia Tucker was posted on the National Memo website August 25, 2017:

During a rage-fueled rant in Phoenix a few days ago, President Donald Trump threatened a government shutdown if Congress doesn’t appropriate the billions he needs to construct a wall along the southern border. Though he now ignores his once-upon-a-time pledge that Mexico would pay for the wall, it’s no surprise that the president pulled out a signature red-meat theme.

His poll numbers are trending steadily downward, and a raucous xenophobia tends to energize his base. In a campaign-style rally, he whipped up the frenzy with escalating rhetoric: “If we have to close down our government, we’re building that wall,” he exclaimed, as supporters chanted, “Build the wall!”
Let’s ignore, for a moment, the virtually insurmountable logistical, legal, economic and political obstacles presented by such a project. Even if Trump were to build his promised barrier — and that’s quite unlikely — it would not solve the nation’s biggest immigration challenge: what to do about the undocumented people who are already here. Continue reading “Trump’s Wall Plan Ignores Immigration Realities”

Trump’s border wall brinkmanship may leave Republicans in Congress holding the bag

The following article by James Hohmann with Breanne Deppisch and Joanie Greve was posted on the Washington Post website August 24, 2017:

THE BIG IDEA: Donald Trump is doing more damage to the public image of congressional Republican leaders than any Democratic operative could in their wildest dreams.

The president’s threat to shut down the federal government if Congress does not pony up $1.6 billion for a border wall could further corrode his relationship with Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. It might also cause additional damage to the Senate majority leader and House speaker’s standing with the Republican base. Continue reading “Trump’s border wall brinkmanship may leave Republicans in Congress holding the bag”

The Cost Of Trump’s Wall Compared To The Programs He’s Proposing To Cut

The following article by J. Brady McCollough was posted on the National Memo website March 18, 2017:

The fiscal 2018 price for President Trump’s border wall is in: $2.6 billion. That’s a cost to U.S. taxpayers, not a cost many people any longer think will be picked up by the Mexican government.

As first installments go, it’s a pretty big number. Indeed, its size can be appreciated in one powerful way by setting it against some of the many budget cuts Trump proposed this week. Continue reading “The Cost Of Trump’s Wall Compared To The Programs He’s Proposing To Cut”

Border Wall Will Cost Double Trump’s Estimate

The following was posted on the trumpaccountable.org website February 10, 2017:

A Department of Homeland Security report seen by Reuters apparently contains the following bad news for Donald Trump: it could cost 21.6 billion dollars to construct fences and walls that would span most – but not all – of the US-Mexico border. During the election Trump repeatedly promised that the wall would cost 8 -12 billion dollars and that Mexico would pay for it. It looks like he will not keep either promise. Continue reading “Border Wall Will Cost Double Trump’s Estimate”