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Even as he threatens to shut down the government unless Congress funds his proposed border wall, President Donald Trump revived his claim that Mexico would pay for the barrier.
In a tweet Thursday, the president contended that his stance on America’s southern neighbor funding the wall “has never changed.” He claimed his replacement of the North American Free Trade Agreement would cause Mexico to pay the barrier “just by the money we save.” It is unclear how the new trade deal would fund the wall, which carries a price tag of up to $25 billion.
With just over a week until funding for parts of the government lapses, Democratic leaders aimed to turn the president’s statement against him. Two days after an on-camera spat where Trump said he would be “proud” to shut down the government, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would not approve any additional money for the border wall.
“Well, Mr. President, if you say Mexico is going to pay for the wall through NAFTA, which it certainly won’t, then I guess we don’t have to. Let’s fund the government,” the New York Democrat said Thursday on the Senate floor.
“Honestly, if the president really believed what he tweeted this morning that his new NAFTA would pay for the wall, he wouldn’t be threatening to shut down the government unless American taxpayers fund his wall. You can’t have it both ways,” Schumer continued.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also questioned what the president meant by his tweet.
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