President-elect Donald Trump slammed President Biden on Monday for selling off portions of the southern border wall. He called it an “almost criminal act” and urged Biden to stop immediately.
“I’m asking today, Joe Biden to please stop selling the wall. We’re going to use that to create a strong barrier,” Trump said during a press event at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump criticized the cost, saying it has nearly doubled since six years ago. “The administration is trying to sell it for five cents on the dollar, knowing that we’re getting ready to put it up,” he added.
The Daily Wire reported last week that the Biden administration is hauling away border wall slabs. Video footage showed trucks moving the materials south of Tucson, Ariz., where migrants have been entering illegally.
“They are taking it from three stations: Nogales, Tucson, and Three Points,” a Border Patrol agent told the outlet. “The goal is to move all of it off the border before Christmas.”
Some of the wall pieces are being sold through GovPlanet, an auction site specializing in military surplus. Bidding reportedly starts at just $5. The Post previously noted auctions have been ongoing since at least April.
“It’s almost a criminal act,” Trump said. “They know we’re going to use it, and if we don’t have it, we’re going to have to rebuild it. It will cost double what it cost years ago, and that’s hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Trump accused Biden of undermining a smooth transition and vowed to fight back. “I spoke with the attorney general of Texas [Ken Paxton], I spoke to the senators of Texas,” he said. “Hopefully they’ll be able to stop this with a restraining order.”
Trump called it a matter of common sense, not politics. “This is just people that don’t want this country to succeed. This has nothing to do with Democrat or Republican,” he said.
Biden had halted construction of the border wall with an executive order early in his term. However, he later waived environmental reviews to build sections in Texas.
Republicans are outraged, calling it politically motivated. “If it’s true, they’re purposefully hamstringing an incoming president,” said Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.). “It wouldn’t be shocking. Why would they want to see President Trump succeed with policies they aggressively sabotaged?”