Wall of denials
Trump claims EVERY living ex-president backs his wall. Not so, say Obama, Bush, Clinton and Carter
DONALD Trump’s claims that ex-US presidents supported his controversial border wall with Mexico were rejected by the former leaders last night.
Mr Trump had said the wall ‘should have been done by all of the presidents that preceded me, and they all know it’.
He added: ‘Some of them have told me that we should have done it.’
But Jimmy Carter, 94, said: ‘I have not discussed the border wall with President Trump, and do not support him on the issue.’ Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton also issued denials.
They spoke out ahead of a primetime address from the Oval Office – Mr Trump’s first since taking office – which was due to take place early today.
Mr Trump was expected to renew his demand for $5 billion (£3.93 billion) for the border wall amid speculation he could declare a national emergency to get it.
A poll for broadcaster CNN found that 57 per cent of Americans oppose the wall, with 38 per cent in favour.
Mr Clinton’s spokesman said the former president had not talked to Mr Trump about the wall, adding: ‘In fact, they’ve not talked since the inauguration.’ Mr Bush’s spokesman also said they had not discussed the wall. Aides to Mr Obama told the New York Times that reports of his support were not true.
Mr Obama said in September: ‘We know that in a smaller, more connected world, we can’t just put technology back in a box, we can’t just put walls up all around America. Walls don’t keep out threats like terrorism or disease.’
Yesterday vice-president Mike Pence tried to get around the denials by saying Mr Trump had the ‘impression’ that the former leaders supported the wall.
Mr Pence said: ‘I know the president has said that that was his impression from previous administrations, previous presidents. I know I’ve seen clips of previous presidents talking about the importance of border security, the importance of addressing the issue of illegal immigration.’ The US government has been partially shut down for three weeks, with Mr Trump refusing to sign off on department budgets until his opponents agree to fund his wall.
During the impasse, public workers do not get paid and yesterday it was revealed that many – particularly those working at airports – were phoning in sick.