YOU CAN'T DO THAT
‘Con Man’ Trump Is Mocked for Saying ‘Military Will Build the Wall’ and Mexico Is Paying for It ‘(Indirectly)’
‘Even Your Own Supporters Won’t Believe This’
President Donald Trump followed his Tuesday morning meltdown with Wednesday morning lies and what sounded like a nod to civil war.
Despite the fact that a strong majority of Americans do not want a border wall, Trump is pushing for it – as he continues to rest his entire presidency on completing it.
“In our Country, so much money has been poured down the drain, for so many years, but when it comes to Border Security and the Military, the Democrats fight to the death,” Trump tweeted Wednesday.
Of course, Trump’s claim that the Democrats “fight to the death” is hyperbole – but in his mind, is it?
“We won on the Military, which is being completely rebuilt. One way or the other, we will win on the Wall!”
(Note the “one way or another” claim – it’s how he will ultimately claim victory.)
Then comes this staggering lie – and highly improbable claim.
“Mexico is paying (indirectly) for the Wall through the new USMCA, the replacement for NAFTA!”
That is a lie, and an embarrassing one that Sarah Huckabee Sanders pushed Tuesday at her first press conference in weeks. Despite a reporter’s valiant attempts to explain where federal funds come from, and that trade agreement benefits go into consumers’ pockets, she refused to accept the facts.
“Far more money coming to the U.S.,” Trump continued.
“Because of the tremendous dangers at the Border, including large scale criminal and drug inflow, the United States Military will build the Wall!”
There is little chance of that happening.
While U.S. service members deployed to the border last month repaired sections of the wall and strung barbed wire, that was more akin to busy work to justify their presence there – which was part of Trump’s November election tactics.
The Army Corps of Engineers has built dams, flood protection barriers, and constructed other public works in the U.S. and around the world, but building a border wall is not within their mandate.
It’s unclear if Trump has constitutional authority to force the U.S. Military to build the wall.
Using U.S. Armed Forces to build Trump’s wall would draw strong criticism from Democrats, who in the House could defund the project.
Here’s how some responded:
“(indirectly)” is doing a significant amount of work here! https://t.co/DIrjnG5GZh
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 19, 2018
Whatever President Trump may means by “money coming to the U.S.” from Mexico (does he mean anything?) – the claim from most conventional economic measures is untrue. EG US grain exports to Mexico are down as a result of Trump trade harassment https://t.co/VnWUESUC5O https://t.co/5leEkbs5k5
— David Frum (@davidfrum) December 19, 2018
It never ceases to amaze me how obvious it is that Trump is a con-man, yet still manages to find rubes. https://t.co/l9Nhu4R7pU
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) December 19, 2018
I remember the old Trump 2016 campaign call and response like it was yesterday :
Trump: What’ll we do?
Crowd: Build the wall!
Trump: Who’ll pay for it?
Crowd: Mexico, indirectly, through unverifiable future savings from mild changes to existing trade pacts! https://t.co/w8fDZp68R5— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) December 19, 2018
You caved. Give it up.
Congress hasn’t even passed the USMCA — and may not. And no money can go toward any wall, nor can the military build a wall by law.
And this Mexico will be “indirectly.”
Come on, ven your own supporters won’t believe this crap. https://t.co/nipG9l0k6u
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) December 19, 2018
“This fabulous Wall is gonna pay for itself! Promise!”
“These fabulous tax-cuts are gonna pray for themselves. Would I lie?”
“This fabulous Trump University degree is gonna pay for itself! Would I lie?”
“This fabulous Trump Casino stock is gonna pay for itself! Would I lie?” https://t.co/Th2mB89eHp
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) December 19, 2018
Indirectly. https://t.co/ddCLtAzAkE
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) December 19, 2018
Wow. Can someone please tell this guinea pig with an ill-fitting suit how drug trafficking works? They don’t just swallow and cross the border (not exclusively at least). They use boats and fucking planes! Does he want to build a water and air wall too? https://t.co/CqwPSLYGvp
— Kitty-la-Mystika (@Hoshichaaan) December 19, 2018
The United States Military will NOT build your fucking wall. https://t.co/0jfwqhV8Fg
— Jude (@Jxnewton) December 19, 2018
Jesus Christ. (indirectly). https://t.co/mpBIzkLuAZ
— Rubee421 🐝🇺🇸 🎄🎅🎁 (@rootbeer421) December 19, 2018
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