Trump Scares Nation with Fake News, Pictures of Border Wall

During a campaign-style speech in Ohio, Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump promised he was getting “that sucker built,” referring to the U.S.-Mexican border wall.

RELATED: 
United States: 12 States Sue Trump Administration Over Inclusion of Citizenship Question in 2020 Census

The hour-long speech outlined a US$1.5 trillion infrastructure plan including his agenda and plans for building the border wall.

“We started our wall—what a thing of beauty,” Trump said to the crowd, jeering at past critics who suggested he “give up” on the wall, saying he “never gives up.”

This follows an episode of the president's recent social media blunder on Twitter where he posted photos of what appeared to be construction on the border wall accompanied by the words: "Great briefing this afternoon on the start of our Southern Border WALL!"

The president had arrived in San Diego earlier that day to review various samples under consideration for incorporation into the wall.

The photos were later denounced by the Department of Homeland Security saying the photos were taken nine years ago of a segment being replaced along with the border and do not resemble the wall at all.

“Although the existing wall has proven effective at deterring unlawful cross-border activity, smuggling organizations damaged and breached this outdated version of a border wall several hundred times during the last two years,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement.

Construction on the 3.6km long and 9m high wall has yet to begin with Homeland Security still debating their options.

Around US$1.6 billion, what Trump calls a “down payment,” will be dedicated to building the wall under the trillion-dollar spending package.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has spoken with Trump about the potential use of military funds for a border wall with Mexico Pentagon said Thursday.

Mattis and Trump “have talked about the proposal, potentially, but, remember, securing Americans and securing the nation is of paramount importance to the secretary,” Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told reporters without providing further details.