Trump contradicts Kelly: ‘All concrete wall was never abandoned’

Breaking News Emails

Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.

Dec. 31, 2018 / 1:42 PM GMT

By Dartunorro Clark

President Donald Trump on Monday defended his long-promised border wall a day after outgoing White House chief of staff John Kelly said plans for a solid concrete structure were ditched early on in the administration.

“An all concrete Wall was NEVER ABANDONED, as has been reported by the media,” Trump tweeted. “Some areas will be all concrete but the experts at Border Patrol prefer a Wall that is see through (thereby making it possible to see what is happening on both sides). Makes sense to me!”

vCard QR Code

vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.

The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.

Kelly, who will depart the administration on Wednesday, told The Los Angeles Times in an extensive interview published on Sunday that Trump’s pledge to build a massive wall along the U.S.-Mexico is not referring to an actual wall.

“The president still says ‘wall’ — oftentimes frankly he’ll say ‘barrier’ or ‘fencing,’ now he’s tended toward steel slats,” Kelly said. “But we left a solid concrete wall early on in the administration when we asked people what they needed and where they needed it.”

Dec. 30, 201801:30

Trump’s tweet comes amid a partial government shutdown that began Dec. 22 over his demand that Congress fund a $5 billion wall. He threatened to “close” the border if the money was not approved.

Congressional Democrats, who take control of the House of Representatives after returning to Washington on Jan. 3, have shown little interest in funding what incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff called an “immoral, ineffective and expensive wall — the wall that he specifically promised that Mexico would pay for.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who met privately with the president on Sunday, said Trump was in a “very good mood” and is open-minded about a compromise if it “achieves his goals of securing our border.”

Graham also reiterated Kelly’s comment that the wall is not a concrete wall.

“The wall has become a metaphor for border security. And what we’re talking about is a physical barrier where it makes sense. In the past every Democrat has voted for these physical barriers,” Graham said.


🕐 Top News in the Last Hour By Importance Score

# Title 📊 i-Score
1 Pope Francis' life in full as pontiff dies aged 88 with Catholic world in mourning 🔴 78 / 100
2 Chinese garment factories that supply Shein shut down amid Trump tariffs: ‘There are only risks to doing business with the US now’ 🔴 75 / 100
3 Calls grow for Pete Hegseth to resign after 2nd group chat revealed 🔴 75 / 100
4 When Did Pope Francis Become Pope? Look Back on His Papacy 🔴 72 / 100
5 Hegseth shared Yemen attack details in second Signal chat, reports say 🔴 65 / 100
6 ‘Full-blown meltdown’ at Pentagon after Pete Hegseth’s second Signal chat revealed 🔴 65 / 100
7 Lisa Rinna reveals heartbreaking reason she threatened to kill husband Harry Hamlin 🔴 62 / 100
8 Tesla reportedly delays launch of new low-cost model by months 🔴 62 / 100
9 Padres star Luis Arraez breaks his silence from hospital bed after sickening collision left him out cold 🔵 55 / 100
10 Phil Jackson blasts NBA for decision that violates 'sacred days' in rare post 🔵 45 / 100

View More Top News ➡️