Irish Daily Mirror

IT’S WALL OVER... BAR THE SHOUTING

Trump defiant on border trip

- BY CHRISTOPHE­R BUCKTIN US Editor in Alamo, Texas news@ irishmirro­r. ie @ Irishmirro­r

DONALD Trump broke his silence for the first time since his Twitter ban on a trip to flaunt his “achievemen­ts” as US President.

Just days before he must vacate the White House, the disgraced leader railed at a bid to impeach him for a second time.

He called it “absolutely ridiculous” said it was causing “tremendous anger” and was “a continuati­on of the greatest witch hunt in the history of politics.”

But he added: “I want no violence.” Mr Trump, 74, faces the possibilit­y for a Senate trial for “inciting insurrecti­on” following the storming of Washington’s Capitol building by enraged supporters. The mayhem left five dead.

He spoke out on a visit to Alamo, Texas, which Whit e House d e puty pre s s secretary Judd Deere, said was “to mark the completion of more than 400 miles of border wall.” Building the barrier on the US- Mexico border was a key election promise of Mr Trump in 2016.

He had vowed to build a “big, beautiful wall” along America’s southern border with Mexico paying for it.

DEADLY

About € 12billion in funding has come f rom the Department of Homeland Security, as well as from the Defense and Treasury Department­s. No money came from Mexico.

In reality, the 400 miles includes a significan­t amount of constructi­on in places where previous administra­tions had already built structures.

Less than 30 miles is said to be new. President- elect Joe Biden has pledged to halt wall building and focus more on technology to secure the border.

The trip caused a stir on Twitter after many mistook it for its famous namesake, the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836 when Texan patriots were slaughtere­d by Mexican troops. The W h i t e Ho u s e d e n i e d a n y symbolism in the choice.

Before landing in Alamo, Mr Tr u m p f a l s e l y c l a i m e d “ANTIFA people” were behind last week’s deadly riots telling s e n i o r R e p u b l i c a n s h e accepts some blame.

The attack unfolded after he called on his supporters to “fight” the election result and “persuade” Republican­s not to certify Mr Biden’s November win. Mr Trump has declared a state of emergency in Washington DC amid r umours of planned violent protests at Mr Biden’s January 20 inaugurati­on . It allows US department­s to co- ordinate security efforts.

 ??  ?? HORROR WRITER Trump signs wall plaque yesterday
DWARFED Trump talks to officials next to wall
OUR MAN Christophe­r in Alamo
UNREPENTAN­T President making a speech at the site
HORROR WRITER Trump signs wall plaque yesterday DWARFED Trump talks to officials next to wall OUR MAN Christophe­r in Alamo UNREPENTAN­T President making a speech at the site

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