President Donald Trump visited the San Diego border on Wednesday to show off a newly constructed portion of the wall after a fundraising trip in California.
“It’s an amazing project,” Trump said, pointing to the 30-foot high barrier constructed with steel and concrete, noting that it also went six feet underground.
“If you think you’re going to cut it with a blow torch, that doesn’t work, because you hit the concrete, and then if you think you’re going to go through the concrete, that doesn’t work because we have very powerful rebar inside,” Trump said
The president traveled via motorcade after a fundraiser to Otay Mesa, a community outside San Diego on the United States -Mexico border to review the latest constructed physical barrier.
Schumer blocks 12th GOP bid to reopen government as Trump says Democrats ‘lost the negotiation’
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Former radical group leader tied to Mamdani on AOC payroll
Jasmine Crockett Says She’s Strongly Considering Joining Senate Race in Bid to Enact ‘Karma’ Against Republicans
Bill Maher Says Meeting Trump Gave Him ‘Perspective’ and Now He Would ‘Love’ to Meet George W. Bush
Baby humpback whale meets tragic end off New Jersey coast in suspected propeller strike
Los Angeles teacher says ICE agents are ‘not the only ones with guns’ following shooting of federal agent
Trump-backed North Carolina House map approved by lawmakers as Republicans aim to pick up seat
SCOOP: Trump’s Memphis crime crackdown locates dozens of missing kids, removes 109 gangbangers from streets
Every Minute Matters in Today’s World: Use Yours to Speak Truth
Liberal firebrand Jasmine Crockett floats bid in crowded Texas Senate race
Newsom Signs Bill Pointing Kids Toward LGBT Site with Possible Predators
Johnson says those upset about White House ballroom have ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’
Trump suggests DOJ owes him money for past cases
NYC rabbis warn Democratic socialist mayoral candidate ‘poses a danger’ to Jewish New Yorkers
Illegal Alien Truck Driver Charged with Causing Deadly Multi-Car Crash
He pointed out the new wall structure to the press, which was 24 miles of primary and secondary wall at the border.
“We have it covered underground, we have it covered overground,” Trump said.
The president was joined by acting Department of Homeland security Kevin McAllen and several other border security officials.
He said that over 44,000 bollard panels had been set up for the wall, which was then filled with concrete and rebar.
Trump admitted that he envisioned a solid concrete wall when he campaigned for president, but he was told by border officials that they preferred a wall constructed by concrete-filled bollards so they could see through it.
“It’s hardened concrete, very powerful concrete,” Trump said, pointing to the structure.
Schumer blocks 12th GOP bid to reopen government as Trump says Democrats ‘lost the negotiation’
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Former radical group leader tied to Mamdani on AOC payroll
Jasmine Crockett Says She’s Strongly Considering Joining Senate Race in Bid to Enact ‘Karma’ Against Republicans
Bill Maher Says Meeting Trump Gave Him ‘Perspective’ and Now He Would ‘Love’ to Meet George W. Bush
Baby humpback whale meets tragic end off New Jersey coast in suspected propeller strike
Los Angeles teacher says ICE agents are ‘not the only ones with guns’ following shooting of federal agent
Trump-backed North Carolina House map approved by lawmakers as Republicans aim to pick up seat
SCOOP: Trump’s Memphis crime crackdown locates dozens of missing kids, removes 109 gangbangers from streets
Every Minute Matters in Today’s World: Use Yours to Speak Truth
Liberal firebrand Jasmine Crockett floats bid in crowded Texas Senate race
Newsom Signs Bill Pointing Kids Toward LGBT Site with Possible Predators
Johnson says those upset about White House ballroom have ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’
Trump suggests DOJ owes him money for past cases
NYC rabbis warn Democratic socialist mayoral candidate ‘poses a danger’ to Jewish New Yorkers
Illegal Alien Truck Driver Charged with Causing Deadly Multi-Car Crash
He added that the steel wall was designed to retain heat, making it harder to climb, plus having an anti-climbing system at the top.
“You can fry an egg on that wall,” e said. The president also acknowledged to reporters that he wanted the wall to be painted black and have spikes but said it was cheaper to let it remain naturally rust-colored.
“We can paint it later,” he said.
The president discussed his growing understanding of border barriers, noting that the Southern border would not need much more than 500 miles of wall to secure the border. He cited the existence of natural mountain and river barriers that prevented criminals from crossing. He did not rule out building additional barriers in the future but said it would depend on whether it was needed.
One border patrol agent spoke about the importance of the border wall to all of the agents, thanking the president for pushing forward on construction.
Trump said he met with Border Patrol prior to constructing the wall, picking the most effective structures to protect the border.
One border security official scoffed at the idea that the wall was a “vanity” project for the president.
“There’s a false narrative out there that this wall is the president’s vanity wall,” he said. “I’m here to tell you right now that that is false.”
He thanked Trump for listening to border patrol agents during the planning and construction process.
“You listened to the agents and you gave them exactly what they asked for,” he said.
One official with Trump confirmed that the structure was funded with regular Congressional appropriations in the FY 2017 and FY 2018 and that that the new wall replaced an inferior structure.
Trump said that he still considered the situation on the border a national emergency, but as more wall went up he could withdraw military forces.
“I hope you’re impressed,” he told reporters as he took questions about the project.
One worker told Trump of a tradition of workers signing the wall if they worked on the wall.
“I’ll sign it,” Trump said, and went to the wall and signed the steel barrier with a marker before encouraging other officials present to do the same.
Story cited here.
