We always feel it’s important to point out when statements, usually tweets, from President Trump aren’t accurate, and the one this morning was a doozy. His plethora of past comments on Mexico and the border wall are coming home to roost and he’s looking for fresh new ways to convince his supporters that his past promises weren’t lies, except he’s lying to cover the old lies. Here’s the tweet:
“Mexico is paying for the Wall through the new USMCA Trade Deal. Much of the Wall has already been fully renovated or built. We have done a lot of work. $5.6 Billion Dollars that House has approved is very little in comparison to the benefits of National Security. Quick payback!”
Let’s break this down.
Falsehood #1: Mexico is paying for the Wall through the new USMCA Trade Deal. Not true because all trade deals must be approved by Congress. USMCA (the new NAAFTA) has not. From The Washington Post: And even if the trade agreement is approved, it would not in any way create a stream of money designated for the construction of a border wall. Also, Trump’s main campaign theme was Mexico paying for the wall directly, not indirectly through trade deals.
Falsehood #2: Much of the Wall has already been fully renovated or built. We have done a lot of work. Not true. No money has been approved for the wall, not a penny. Funds were made available to renovate and repair existing fence and barriers but no new wall has been built with money requested by Trump and approved by Congress.
What Trump said then:
Mexico will pay for the wall. I promise.
I am proud to shut down the government for border security.
I will be the one to shut it down.What he says now:
Taxpayers must pay for the wall.
The Democrats own the shutdown.Promise made. Promises broken.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) December 30, 2018
This morning’s tweet is not a good sign for the afternoon meeting with congressional leaders.