Trump threatens to hold his own border wall hostage

(Image credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

last updated 28 February 2018

President Trump followed up a major legal victory for his border wall by tweeting that he has decided to withhold "sections" from California until the entire structure is approved. Trump declared in the same Wednesday tweet: "OUR COUNTRY MUST HAVE BORDER SECURITY!"

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel rejected an argument by California and environmental groups that claimed the federal government had overstepped its bounds by waiving requirements for the sake of building the wall. "Congress gave authority to the Department of Homeland Security to construct a border wall without delay to prevent illegal entry into the United States, and we are pleased DHS can continue this important work vital to our nation's interests," said Justice Department spokesman Devin O'Malley.

Congress has not yet funded the wall, and despite Trump's repeated promises that Mexico will foot the bill, that plan seems to have so far made no headway.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.