Trump: Mexico will pay for border wall

Almost three months before the election in the US, President Donald Trump reactivated a previously unfulfilled election promise from the previous election campaign.

Washington (AP) - US President Donald Trump had promised before the 2016 election that he would build a wall on the southern border of the United States and let Mexico pay for it. According to Trump, around 280 miles (450 kilometers) of the controversial border wall have been built so far.

The US taxpayer has financed the construction so far. But during a visit to the border town of Yuma (Arizona), Trump repeated his unfulfilled promise from the last election campaign: "Mexico will pay for the wall."

Trump said a toll was planned for vehicles when crossing the border. The amount has not yet been determined, but it will be a small amount. The proceeds will be substantial in view of the many border crossings. A tax on transfers between Mexico and the USA is also conceivable. He did not give any further details. "You will pay for it. You pay for it. 100 percent," Trump said. It makes no difference whether Mexico pays for the wall now or later.

The Republican Trump wants to have a wall built on half of the 3200-kilometer border with Mexico in order to ward off illegal border crossings by migrants. The building of the wall has long been one of Trump's central promises. The Democrats in Congress are strictly against the construction of the wall. Trump is running for a second term in the November election. His Democratic challenger is said to be ex-Vice President Joe Biden.

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