Trump: Mexico talks over wall ‘will start immediately’

President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that negotiations over his proposed border wall with Mexico will begin “immediately” after he takes office, and he accused a reporter of misreporting details about the massive project.

“On the fence: It’s not a fence, it’s a wall,” Trump said in response to a question at his first press conference since winning the White House. “You just misreported it.”

Trump also defended the timeline of construction and payment for the wall, arguing that speed requires using taxpayer funds, but vowing that Mexico reimburse America later.

{mosads}“I could wait about a year and half until we finish our negotiations with Mexico, which will start immediately after we get to office, but I don’t want to wait,” Trump said.

“Mike Pence is leading an effort to get final approvals through various agencies and through Congress for the wall to begin.”

During the campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to build a wall along the southwestern border and have Mexico pay for its construction. But since his election, Trump and his team have indicated that the U.S. government will have to cover at least some initial costs.

At Wednesday’s press conference, Trump named various ways that Mexico could pay America back for building the wall such as a tax or a payment.

Trump offered his respect to Mexico’s government and people, laying the blame on U.S. politicians for allowing Mexico to take advantage of America.

“I don’t blame them for taking advantage of the United States,” Trump said. “What I say is we shouldn’t have allowed that to happen.”