Donald Trump, driven by a determination to secure the presidency, employed various tactics, including the audacious promise to construct a border wall and compel Mexico to foot the bill. Post-election, he earnestly endeavored to fulfill this commitment, recognizing the immense challenges of executing a comprehensive physical barrier along the southern border—both temporally and financially daunting.
In an attempt to uphold his pledge and appease his political base, Trump redirected funds from other programs, securing some congressional approvals to construct a fence. Regrettably, a significant portion of these funds was allocated to the repair of existing barriers, and a substantial share derived from appropriations dating back to the Obama administration, originally designated for the construction and maintenance of fences in genuinely high-impact areas.
Grumpy Trumpy built a fake wall
In the middle of nowhere to fool them all
Throughout spring, summer, winter, and fall
They pass right through it, to answer the call
Trumpy’s fake sources and fraudulent conmen
Couldn’t deceive a single soul again
No more illusions, no more pretend,
Trumpy’s fake wall’s tale comes to an end.
Confronted with the reality that many critical border zones already possessed effective barriers, the Trump administration opted to erect a fence in remote areas with minimal illegal immigration concerns. Ultimately, Trump’s tenure witnessed the realization of only 52 miles of ostensibly “new” fencing. Ironically, during a high-profile signing event in California, Trump ceremoniously endorsed what turned out to be the very fence initiated under Obama’s administration—a twist of fate that added a touch of irony to the narrative.
