White House strategic communications director Mercedes Schlapp acknowledged U.S. taxpayers will end up paying for a wall on the southern border.
Her comments came during an exchange with CNN’s Jim Sciutto on Wednesday.
“At the end of the day, taxpayers are going to pay for this wall,” Sciutto told Schlapp. “Why does (President Donald Trump) continue to mislead on that issue?”
She replied: “The trade deal (with Mexico) is going to bring more jobs back to America and it’s also going to keep our wages up. So, this trade deal in effect does help pay for this border security.”
Sciutto noted: “It doesn’t pay for it. Taxpayers pay for it.”
And Schlapp then answered: “Yes. And you know what else taxpayers are paying for? The financial burden of this illegal immigration.”
The president had campaigned on a vow to get Mexico to pay for the wall, but Mexico has refused.
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