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| Trump Insists Mexico Will Pay for Wall After U.S. Begins the Work | Trump Insists Mexico Will Pay for Wall After U.S. Begins the Work |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump said in an interview Friday morning that financing a border wall with taxpayer money would allow the work to begin more quickly. But he insisted that Mexico would ultimately reimburse the United States for its construction. | WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump said in an interview Friday morning that financing a border wall with taxpayer money would allow the work to begin more quickly. But he insisted that Mexico would ultimately reimburse the United States for its construction. |
| “We’re going to get reimbursed,” Mr. Trump said during a brief telephone interview. “But I don’t want to wait that long. But you start, and then you get reimbursed.” | “We’re going to get reimbursed,” Mr. Trump said during a brief telephone interview. “But I don’t want to wait that long. But you start, and then you get reimbursed.” |
| The president-elect made the comments after Republicans on Capitol Hill began discussing ways to include money for construction of the border wall in spending bills that need to be passed this spring. That caused some speculation that Mr. Trump was retreating on his oft-repeated promise to make Mexico pay for the wall. | The president-elect made the comments after Republicans on Capitol Hill began discussing ways to include money for construction of the border wall in spending bills that need to be passed this spring. That caused some speculation that Mr. Trump was retreating on his oft-repeated promise to make Mexico pay for the wall. |
| In the interview, the president-elect insisted that Mexico would ultimately reimburse the United States. He said that payment would most likely emerge from his efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with the Mexican government. | In the interview, the president-elect insisted that Mexico would ultimately reimburse the United States. He said that payment would most likely emerge from his efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with the Mexican government. |
| “It’s going to be part of everything,” Mr. Trump said of the cost of building the wall. “We are going to be making a much better deal. It’s a deal that never should have been signed.” | “It’s going to be part of everything,” Mr. Trump said of the cost of building the wall. “We are going to be making a much better deal. It’s a deal that never should have been signed.” |
| But he said that the trade negotiations would take time, and that he supported the idea of using taxpayer money to begin construction of the border wall “in order to speed up the process.” | But he said that the trade negotiations would take time, and that he supported the idea of using taxpayer money to begin construction of the border wall “in order to speed up the process.” |
| Republican lawmakers have already begun discussions on Capitol Hill about including funding for the border wall in spending bills this spring. That would provide money to begin construction on a barrier that was authorized, but never completed, in legislation passed in 2006. | Republican lawmakers have already begun discussions on Capitol Hill about including funding for the border wall in spending bills this spring. That would provide money to begin construction on a barrier that was authorized, but never completed, in legislation passed in 2006. |
| Congressional Republicans, who have balked at increases in domestic spending during the Obama administration, could find it difficult to rally behind a proposal that could require billions of taxpayer dollars. The Government Accountability Office has estimated it could cost $6.5 million per mile for a single-layer fence, with an additional $4.2 million for roads and more fencing, according to congressional officials. Those estimates do not include maintenance of the fence along the nearly 2,000-mile border with Mexico. | |
| Attaching such a charged issue to the annual, mandatory government funding measures could instigate a risky political fight. Those who want to block money for the wall by holding up the bills could find themselves accused of shutting down the government. | Attaching such a charged issue to the annual, mandatory government funding measures could instigate a risky political fight. Those who want to block money for the wall by holding up the bills could find themselves accused of shutting down the government. |
| “The chairman and the committee have no interest in threatening a shutdown,” said Jennifer Hing, spokeswoman for the House Appropriations Committee, referring to Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, Republican of New Jersey and the committee’s new chairman. | “The chairman and the committee have no interest in threatening a shutdown,” said Jennifer Hing, spokeswoman for the House Appropriations Committee, referring to Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, Republican of New Jersey and the committee’s new chairman. |
| Ms. Hing said neither Mr. Trump’s transition team nor Republican leaders had asked for funding to build a wall on the Mexican border. | Ms. Hing said neither Mr. Trump’s transition team nor Republican leaders had asked for funding to build a wall on the Mexican border. |
| “If and when a proposal is received, we will take a careful look at it,” she said in an email Friday. | “If and when a proposal is received, we will take a careful look at it,” she said in an email Friday. |
| At an August rally in Phoenix, hours after meeting with President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico, Mr. Trump vowed that America’s southern neighbor would bear the financial burden of securing the border. | At an August rally in Phoenix, hours after meeting with President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico, Mr. Trump vowed that America’s southern neighbor would bear the financial burden of securing the border. |
| “Mexico will pay for the wall, believe me — 100 percent — they don’t know it yet, but they will pay for the wall,” Mr. Trump said last summer. “They’re great people, and great leaders, but they will pay for the wall.” | “Mexico will pay for the wall, believe me — 100 percent — they don’t know it yet, but they will pay for the wall,” Mr. Trump said last summer. “They’re great people, and great leaders, but they will pay for the wall.” |
| In a Twitter post on Friday, Mr. Trump mocked news reports about the possible taxpayer funding of the border barrier, suggesting that Mexico would be forced to reimburse the American government for any costs incurred in building the wall. | In a Twitter post on Friday, Mr. Trump mocked news reports about the possible taxpayer funding of the border barrier, suggesting that Mexico would be forced to reimburse the American government for any costs incurred in building the wall. |
| “The dishonest media does not report that any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!” he wrote early Friday. | “The dishonest media does not report that any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!” he wrote early Friday. |
| Representative Chris Collins, Republican of New York and one of Mr. Trump’s liaisons on Capitol Hill, said Friday morning that members of his party in Congress were eager to get moving on construction of a border wall, even if that meant using taxpayer money to finance it. | Representative Chris Collins, Republican of New York and one of Mr. Trump’s liaisons on Capitol Hill, said Friday morning that members of his party in Congress were eager to get moving on construction of a border wall, even if that meant using taxpayer money to finance it. |
| In an appearance on the CNN program “New Day,” Mr. Collins said it should come as no surprise to anyone that the United States government would have to pay for building the wall. “Of course, we have to pay the bills,” he said. “We’re building the wall.” | In an appearance on the CNN program “New Day,” Mr. Collins said it should come as no surprise to anyone that the United States government would have to pay for building the wall. “Of course, we have to pay the bills,” he said. “We’re building the wall.” |
| But he also expressed confidence that Mr. Trump would be able to negotiate reimbursement from the Mexican government over time. | But he also expressed confidence that Mr. Trump would be able to negotiate reimbursement from the Mexican government over time. |
| Kellyanne Conway, who will serve as a counselor to Mr. Trump in the White House, said the new president would keep the promises he made on the campaign trail. | Kellyanne Conway, who will serve as a counselor to Mr. Trump in the White House, said the new president would keep the promises he made on the campaign trail. |
| “The president-elect has said many times that he will build a wall and Mexico will pay for it,” she said. | “The president-elect has said many times that he will build a wall and Mexico will pay for it,” she said. |
| As a candidate, Mr. Trump’s promise to build a wall to keep out immigrants from Mexico was one of his most powerful speaking points. He often used it at rallies to whip up his supporters and bolster his argument that illegal immigration was damaging the United States. | As a candidate, Mr. Trump’s promise to build a wall to keep out immigrants from Mexico was one of his most powerful speaking points. He often used it at rallies to whip up his supporters and bolster his argument that illegal immigration was damaging the United States. |
| His repeated pledge to make Mexico pay was in part a way to rebut one of the central criticisms of a wall — that the cost to build a barrier along the long southern border could run into the many billions of dollars. | His repeated pledge to make Mexico pay was in part a way to rebut one of the central criticisms of a wall — that the cost to build a barrier along the long southern border could run into the many billions of dollars. |
| Critics have also said the wall would be ineffective in stopping people determined to enter the United States illegally. And others said it represented a symbolic affront to the idea that America was a welcoming country that embraces immigration. | Critics have also said the wall would be ineffective in stopping people determined to enter the United States illegally. And others said it represented a symbolic affront to the idea that America was a welcoming country that embraces immigration. |
| Democrats slammed the reports that Mr. Trump would ask Congress to fund a border wall. | Democrats slammed the reports that Mr. Trump would ask Congress to fund a border wall. |
| “If President Trump asks Congress to approve taxpayer dollars to build a wall, which he has always said would not be paid for by U.S. taxpayers, we will carefully review the request to determine if these taxpayer dollars would be better spent on building hospitals to care for our veterans, roads and bridges to help taxpayers get to work, and for N.I.H. to find cures for cancer,” Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement. | “If President Trump asks Congress to approve taxpayer dollars to build a wall, which he has always said would not be paid for by U.S. taxpayers, we will carefully review the request to determine if these taxpayer dollars would be better spent on building hospitals to care for our veterans, roads and bridges to help taxpayers get to work, and for N.I.H. to find cures for cancer,” Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement. |
| Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader, said she thought even Republicans might balk at spending what she said could be $14 billion on a wall. | Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader, said she thought even Republicans might balk at spending what she said could be $14 billion on a wall. |
| “I think that’s a heavy sell,” she said, “I think that’s a tough sell for them.” | “I think that’s a heavy sell,” she said, “I think that’s a tough sell for them.” |