In 2004 Speech Trump Said That Walls Don’t Work

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In a 2004 speech to a group of graduating college students in New York Donald Trump told his audience never to let a wall stop them from achieving their goals. He said that they should “never give up” and not let even a concrete wall deter them. Instead he advised:

“If there’s a concrete wall in front of you, go through it. Go over it. Go around it. But get to the other side of that wall.”

Since Trump has shut down one-fourth of the United States government by demanding funding for a border wall with Mexico, his 2004 comments have taken on extra meaning. He has said many times that U.S. border security demands a concrete wall. And now it turns out that he believes such a wall shouldn’t stop anybody from getting what they want.

“Go through it. Go over it. Go around it. But get to the other side of that wall,” he said.

The country is now in the third week of a partial government shutdown that is hurting millions of Americans. And it turns out that Trump actually believes that a wall shouldn’t stop anybody from getting into the country anyway.

Trevor Noah, host of “The Daily Show” showed a clip of the 2004 Trump speech on his show Wednesday night. In the clip Trump is shown wearing a green graduation gown at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., urging students to “never, ever give up.”

Wagner College students, alumni and staff have unsuccessfully tried to get the college to revoke the honorary degree Trump was given since he was elected president. They have also contacted their members of Congress, asking them to condemn Trump’s policies and rhetoric.

Noah made light of Trump’s 2004 comments, tweeting: “Oh man, once Trump gets his wall he better hope no one shows Mexico this old video we found.”

During a meeting Wednesday with Democratic leaders Trump threw a tantrum and walked out after he didn’t get his way. He is demanding funding for the proposed border wall which almost nobody wants, and almost nobody thinks will work to keep out illegal immigrants.

“Just left a meeting with Chuck and Nancy, a total waste of time,” Trump tweeted after a very short meeting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

“I asked what is going to happen in 30 days if I quickly open things up, are you going to approve Border Security which includes a Wall or Steel Barrier?” he added. “Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, nothing else works!”

Democrats have stood by their vow not to provide the $5.6 billion that Trump has demanded for the border wall in a government spending bill, but have offered funds for other border security measures.

Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency at the border in order to get the wall built, a proposal that White House officials said Wednesday is still under consideration.

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Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.