According to the Pew Research Center, 62 percent of Americans oppose the building of a wall on the southern border of the U.S. to prevent Latino immigrants from coming into the country. Despite the lack of support, Donald Trump has doubled down, shut down the government, and continued to rant on Twitter about the dire safety need around protecting Americans from lawless brown people.
On Christmas Day, Trump told reporters that only a gold medalist could climb the wall he’s building, and that in some places it would be as high as 30 feet tall (a 32-foot ladder costs around $300 at Home Depot). To prove just how ridiculously ineffective a border wall would be at ending illegal immigration, one Mexican politician climbed to the top of the wall to make a video message about Trump’s rhetoric.
Spoiler alert: he’s not an Olympic athlete.
According to The Independent:
‘Braulio Guerra, who represents the state of Querétaro, said it was “easy to climb the wall, but there are many dangers for our people”. “Human rights, principles and dignity are non-negotiable,” he added.’
Sencillo subir al #Muro pero son muchos los peligros para nuestra gente. Derechos Humanos, principios y dignidad son innegociables #México?? pic.twitter.com/9PExn3RlnV
— Braulio Guerra (@BraulioPRI) March 2, 2017
Despite Trump’s endless promises that Mexico would pay for the border wall, Trump has now led the government into a shutdown, causing government workers to go without pay over the Christmas holidays with no end in sight. It’s done Trump no favors in diplomatic relations with our southern neighbors, either.
‘Mr. Trump has repeatedly asserted that Mexico will foot the bill for the wall. It led to a very public falling out with Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, who had vowed not to cough up.’
Just as Trump lied about who would pay for the wall (it’s the American taxpayers, not the Mexican government), he’s also lied about how much the wall he wants would cost. He’s vacillated between a wall, a fence, and “steel slats,” but plans for the wall showed that it would cost far more than Trump will admit.
‘Mr. Trump has said the price would drop “way down” once he became involved in the planning process. According to a leaked Department of Homeland Security report, the barrier could cost as much as $21bn (£17bn) and take more than three years to construct.’
Mexican politician #BraulioGuerra climbs BORDER WALL to prove how useless it would be. Building this wall will be a waste of American Taxpayers money! pic.twitter.com/bhPe0DaTrm
— VirgoddessG? (@VirgoddessG) December 30, 2018
Guerra’s video proves exactly what Democrats have been trying to say since Trump first announced a bid for the presidency: a wall is a waste of time and money. It’s not only ineffective, it’s unnecessary. Perhaps focusing on issues that cause actual problems in the United States would serve Trump better, but having made this his signature promise, he’s stuck with trying to fulfill it now.
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
