President Trump said Thursday that savings from his new trade deal with Mexico and Canada essentially means that the United States’ southern neighbor is paying for the wall.
I often stated, “One way or the other, Mexico is going to pay for the Wall.” This has never changed. Our new deal with Mexico (and Canada), the USMCA, is so much better than the old, very costly & anti-USA NAFTA deal, that just by the money we save, MEXICO IS PAYING FOR THE WALL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2018
The president’s comment comes as Republicans and Democrats are locked in a fight over an end-of-year spending deal.
In a heated debate with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Tuesday, the president said he would be “proud” to shut down the government if Democrats withhold the funding he wants for a border wall.
Mr. Schumer responded to the president’s tweet with his own, saying Mr. Trump’s claim contradicts his shutdown threat.
“Mr. President: If you say Mexico is going to pay for the wall (which I don’t believe), then I guess we don’t have to,” he wrote. “Let’s fund the government.”
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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