House

GOP lawmaker suggests Trump use some of his own money to help pay for border wall

by Justin Wise - 12/31/18 1:44 PM ET

Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) said that President Trump should considering tapping into his personal funds to help pay for a wall along the southern border.

“If Mexico isn’t going to be made to pay for a wall, that means funds must be found internally,” Walter said in a statement Friday.

{mosads}“As a wealthy man, the president might consider pledging some of his own funds as well. Whatever it takes, just so long as we don’t add to the debt that is bankrupting our great country.”

Trump has called for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border since his campaign for president. He has demanded that a new spending bill in Congress include $5 billion for the structure, which Democrats oppose.

The disagreement between Republicans and Democrats over funding led to a government shutdown that began on Dec. 22.

Jones and other Republican lawmakers have agreed with Trump that a wall would help stem illegal immigration. But he said the government needs a “fiscally responsible plan” for the structure.

“America’s national debt is nearly $22 trillion. Next year our annual deficit is projected to top $1 trillion. We can’t afford to keep financing the provision of government services by borrowing more and more money. It’s morally irresponsible and it’s got to stop,” Jones said.

Jones also suggested that slashing funds allocated for things such as military operations in Afghanistan could help pay for a wall. He added that cutting “wasteful federal spending” would help fund the project as well.

Tags Donald Trump Walter Jones