Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
Trump says tariffs made Mexico pay for US border wall
Donald Trump said Mexico has paid for the US border wall many times through tariffs imposed on the country.
He made the claim at a campaign rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky, while defending his trade policy.
Trump said tariff revenue exceeded the cost of the wall built during his two presidential terms.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected the claim, saying Mexico opposed the wall and did not contribute money to its construction.
US Customs and Border Protection completed the first 8 kilometres of a planned 43.5-kilometre steel barrier in the San Rafael Valley on February 17, 2026.
The US government paid for the work, according to Sheinbaum, and the agency's updated plans include more barriers and other border structures.
Donald Trump said Mexico had paid for the US border wall many times over through tariffs imposed on the country.
At a campaign rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky, Trump said tariff revenues exceeded the cost of the wall.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico did not contribute to the wall and that the US government paid its full cost.
Sheinbaum said Mexico opposed the wall and argued that bilateral cooperation had kept the border secure without a physical barrier.
The US Customs and Border Protection agency completed the first 8 kilometres of a planned new 43.5-kilometre steel wall on February 17, 2026.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
- What
- Trump said Mexico had paid for the border wall through US tariffs. Sheinbaum said Mexico did not fund the wall.
- When
- Trump made the remarks at a campaign rally; the article was published on October 17, 2026. Sheinbaum made her comments in July 2025.
- Where
- Trump spoke at a campaign rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The wall project described in the article is in the San Rafael Valley.
- Why
- Trump said tariffs brought in more than the wall cost. Sheinbaum said Mexico opposed the wall and had not contributed to its construction.
Donald Trump
Claudia Sheinbaum and the Mexican government
Who paid for the wall
Donald Trump
Trump said Mexico paid for it many times over through tariffs.
Claudia Sheinbaum and the Mexican government
Sheinbaum said Mexico did not contribute funds and that the US government covered the full cost.
The wall
Donald Trump
Trump defended the wall and the trade measures he said financed it.
Claudia Sheinbaum and the Mexican government
Sheinbaum said Mexico opposed the wall and that bilateral cooperation could keep the border secure without a physical barrier.
Sheinbaum said Mexico opposed the new phase of the wall and had not provided funding for it.
US Customs and Border Protection completed the first 8 kilometres of a planned 43.5-kilometre steel wall in the San Rafael Valley.
Infobae published an article reporting Trump’s claim at a campaign rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky, that tariffs had made Mexico pay for the wall.
- Rally location
- Highland Heights, Kentucky
- First section completed
- 8 kilometres (5 miles)
- Planned wall length
- 43.5 kilometres (27 miles)
- Completion date for first section
- February 17, 2026
- Tariff revenue claim
- Trump said revenues exceeded the wall’s cost
What people are saying
Mexico did pay for that wall—to be clear—because I imposed tariffs on them and charged them costs like they had never paid in their history.
Mexico has paid for that wall many, many times.
They are building it; we do not agree with the wall.