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Trump Says Mexico Wall Won't Need To Cover Entire Border

Trump Says Mexico Wall Won't Need To Cover Entire Border

He said some areas are so remote, it won't be necessary.

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Donald Trump has admitted that his proposed wall between Mexico and the US may only end up covering about half of the 2,000-mile border.

While travelling on Air Force One to France, Trump told journalists the natural landscape would, in places, provide a suitable barrier.

He said: "You have mountains. You have some rivers that are violent and vicious. You have some areas that are so far away that you don't really have people crossing.

Credit: PA

"But you'll need anywhere from 700 to 900 miles."

He also reiterated that the wall would need be transparent, and that he would like to include solar panels.

Trump said having the fencing made see-through would be essential for health and safety reasons. "As horrible as it sounds," he said. "When they throw the large sacks of drugs over, and if you have people on the other side of the wall, you don't see them.


Credit: PA

"They hit you on the head with 60 pounds of stuff? It's over."

The border already has see-through fencing covering around 650 miles, which was built by President George W Bush, at a cost of about $7 billion (£5.4 billion).

During his presidential campaign, building a wall that would Mexico pay for became one of his key promises. However, President Enrique Peña Nieto has since completely dismissed the idea that his country would be providing any of the funding.

Trump has since said Congress would need to fund the wall, to begin with, and then he would find a way for Mexico to repay the costs.

The existing wall between the US and Mexico. Credit: PA

Trump's proposed budget had an allocated $1.4 billion (£1 billion) for wall construction for this financial year, with an additional $2.6 billion (£2 billion) for the 2018 budget.

Congress has not approved any funding for wall construction during 2017.

Sources: BBC, Independent

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Mexico, Donald Trump