Retiring Republican Rep. Walter Jones recently suggested that President Trump contribute his own money to fund his border wall at the U.S. – Mexico border in order to avoid forcing the U.S. in further debt. Trump promised that Mexico would pay for the wall while campaigning, but has since insisted on using U.S. taxpayer funds, even partially shutting down the federal government, to beginning new construction.
“As a wealthy man, the president might consider pledging some of his own funds as well,” Jones said in a news release.
“Whatever compromise is reached, it should be paid for without adding to the deficit or the debt,” Jones wrote, offering a handful of other suggestions, including cutting foreign aid and the effort in Afghanistan. “Whatever it takes, just so long as we don’t add to the debt that is bankrupting our great country.”
Jones called for a “fiscally responsible wall funding plan,” so as not to add to the country’s already crippling national debt of $22 trillion.
“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.
While the president is unlikely to pledge any of his personal wealth to fulfill a campaign promise, many of his supporters appear more than happy to do so. More than 300,000 people have donated $18 million so far to a GoFundMe page to “fund the wall.”
