White House communications adviser Mercedes Schlapp confirmed that the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico will be funded with taxpayers money, The Hill reported.
“Yes,” Schlapp said when pressured by a CNN reporter. “And you know what else taxpayers are paying for? The financial burden of this illegal immigration,” she added.
“We want an orderly, legal immigration process,” the adviser said as she claimed that the Trump administration has unratified United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal, would lead to a growth of jobs and economic opportunities for U.S. companies.
Prior to this, Schlapp and the White House stated that the border wall construction will be funded by the government, and later on Wednesday Schlapp said the USMCA will pay for the wall.
According to the President, these economic benefits as Mexico “indirectly” funding the wall construction, although Congress has not yet approved the trade agreement, would not directly affect the U.S. government.
“I view that as absolutely Mexico is paying for the wall,” Trump said.
CNN noted that White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said Sunday that border wall construction still “requires appropriation” of federal funds from Congress.
The President made his case to Americans to support his plan for a wall during an Oval Office primetime address.
“The wall will also be paid for indirectly by the great new trade deal we have made with Mexico,” he said.
Trump has claimed since the campaign trail that Mexico would pay for a wall along its northern border. The country has repeatedly denounced such claims.
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