Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Republican Congressman Who Represents a Border District Just Said What We're All Thinking About Donald Trump's Border Wall

Republican Congressman Who Represents a Border District Just Said What We're All Thinking About Donald Trump's Border Wall
Texas Republican Representative Will Hurd appears on CNN with Wolf Blitzer January 9, 2019. (CNN)

Accurate.

Make us preferred on Google

President Donald Trump repeatedly claims only Democrats oppose his multi-billion dollar border wall. He also claims Republicans are completely unified in supporting it and back his decision to shut down portions of the government—including the Department of Homeland Security—until he gets the billions of dollars he wants for his wall.

But Texas Republican Representative Will Hurd stated otherwise in an interview with CNN.


Hurd represents a district on the southern border with Mexico. In fact, Hurd's district covers 820 miles of the border, well over a third of the 1,954 mile border with Mexico.

When asked for his thoughts on the wall, Hurd—a member of both the House Homeland Security and Intelligence Committees—stated:

"I think building a concrete structure sea to shining sea is the most expensive and least effective way to do border security."

Watch his remarks here.

Hurd's assessment reflects the thoughts of experts on border security who point out advancements in technology that are utilized more effectively than a wall and could be purchased with a fraction of the money Trump wants for his wall. The Department of Homeland Security budget requests to Congress never included a wall—prior to Trump appointing Kirstjen Nielsen to the post—as experts within the department also understand actual border security and immigration statistics.

The majority of undocumented immigrants who enter the United States still come in legally on a variety of visa types—student, tourist, work—then simply stay after their visa expires. Their arrivals are through legal points or entry on planes or in other types of vehicles, not by walking across the southern border.

Hurd went on to comment on the President's threat to declare a national emergency if he did not get his border wall billions.

Hurd said:

"It would be an amazing misuse and abuse of power."

So why—if every expert in border security and immigration statistics indicate a wall is ineffective and a waste of billions that could be better used by Homeland Security in upgrading technology and increasing staffing—does Trump insist he get his multi-billion dollar wall or else?

Conservative media pundits like Ann Coulter and hosts on Fox News mock him about his campaign promise and popular Make America Great Again rally chant of "build a wall."

However as polls indicate, the majority of United States voters oppose the waste of billions of dollars to pander to right wing pundits, the conservative press and MAGA rally supporters. People voiced just such in response to Hurd's remarks on CNN.

Some pointed out flaws in the Trump one-size fits all multi-million dollar prototypes that were already constructed and failed in testing.

Others voiced support for Hurd's assessment.

Others suggested the GOP listen to their member of Congress who represents a border district.

However a few Trump supporters failed to understand the points Hurd made but were corrected.

As Trump's government shutdown tactic to gain his border wall funding approaches the third week, the President heads to the border for a photo-op to try to gain the support his presidential address on Tuesday failed to garner. If all other attempts to force Congress to give him the billions he wants fail, Trump stated he would likely declare a national emergency to bypass Congress.

More from People/donald-trump

The Chicks; Mitch McConnell
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The Chicks Just Cracked A Clever Joke About Mitch McConnell Amid His Ongoing Absence From Congress—And We're Cackling

The Chicks frontwoman Natalie Maines went viral after she made a joke about Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell amid his continuing absence from Congress due to health issues.

The 84-year-old—who chairs the Senate Rules Committee—was found unconscious at his Washington residence in June, prompting an advanced life support response. Last month, his office said his condition was improving.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of John Kennedy; Donald Trump
Meet the Press/NBC; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

MAGA Senator Shares Theory For Why Trump Constantly Doubles Down On His Claims While Ignoring The Facts—And It's A Big Yikes

During an appearance on Meet the Press, amid another development in the debacle surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy shared his theory for why President Donald Trump has trouble dropping his conspiracies despite factual evidence to the contrary.

Kennedy's remarks came after the Justice Department conceded that Trump's overhaul of the Reflecting Pool was "hasty and botched" and moved to dismiss the criminal charges against Olympian David Hearn, who had been accused of damaging the site.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
USA Today

RFK Jr. Was Just Asked What The 'Most Exotic' Food He's Ever Eaten Is—And His Answer So On Brand

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had social media users reeling after he declared he doesn't "have a gag reflex" and "will literally eat anything."

Kennedy's interview with USA Today White House correspondent Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy coincided with the launch of his new YouTube program, The Real Food Show. HHS says the series is designed to provide families with accessible nutrition guidance and budget-friendly cooking advice.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Dana Bash and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
CNN

RFK Jr. Loses His Cool During Heated On-Air Clash With CNN Host Over Vaccines

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clashed with CNN anchor Dana Bash on Sunday after she questioned him about his controversial anti-vaccine views.

The possibility of Kennedy assuming any senior government role raised significant concern among public health leaders and federal employees, who argued, even as Kennedy was taking the reins, that he should not have access to the nation's public health infrastructure.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anne Hathaway
Human Rights Campaign/YouTube

Conservatives Are Completely Melting Down Over A 2018 Anne Hathaway Speech About Equality—Because Of Course

In May of 2018, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)—the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights and political lobbying organization in the United States—awarded actor Anne Hathaway their Ally for Equality Award at their annual dinner.

Actor and rapper Awkwafina introduced Hathaway with a brief career highlight reel followed by Hathaway giving a short acceptance speech where she touched on historic power dynamics, where some hold unearned power and privilege over the minority or marginalized—something HRC works against.

Keep ReadingShow less