President Trump insisted on Thursday that his concept of a border wall hasn’t “evolved,” a day after his chief of staff informed lawmakers that the president’s campaign pledge to construct the barrier was not “fully informed.”
“The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it,” Trump tweeted. “Parts will be, of necessity, see through and it was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water.”
He continued: “The Wall will be paid for, directly or indirectly, or through longer-term reimbursement, by Mexico, which has a ridiculous $71 billion dollar trade surplus with the U.S,” insisting that the $20 billion border wall is “peanuts compared to what Mexico makes from the U.S. NAFTA is a bad joke!”
Kelly stated he has helped reform Trump’s stances on immigration and the wall.
“There’s been an evolutionary process that this president has gone through … and I pointed out to all the members that were in the room that they all say things during the course of campaigns that may or may not be fully informed,” Kelly informed Fox News later Wednesday.
He further stated that Trump has “adjusted the way he’s looked at” different issues such as, military strategy in Afghanistan and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which shields younger immigrants — often called “Dreamers” — who have been brought to the United States illegally by their parents, from deportation.
The problem is at the heart of the negotiations to stop a government shutdown by Friday evening when it runs out of cash until Congress passes a spending invoice.
Democrats need a vote to guard DACA — which Trump rescinded last September, giving Congress till March 5 to make some fixes — as a part of the deal.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to show the frustrations on Capitol Hill as they attempt to hammer out an agreement.
“I’m looking for something that President Trump supports, and he’s not yet indicated what measure he’s willing to sign,” the Kentucky Republican stated Wednesday. “As soon as we figure out what he is for, then I would be convinced that we were not just spinning our wheels going to this issue on the floor, but actually dealing with a bill that has a chance to become law and therefore solve the problem.”
