DeSantis slams Trump for not making Mexico pay for wall, vows to do it himself via remittance fees

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis and his 2024 campaign scathed former President Donald Trump for dismissing the notion of Mexico ever being able to be required to pay for the U.S. southern border wall.

Over the weekend during a speech, Trump dismissed “lunatics” in the press who claim “Trump didn’t get anything from Mexico” on the wall.

“Well, you know, there was no legal mechanism,” the former president said. “I said they’re gonna help fund this wall – but there was no legal mechanism. How do you go to a country and say, ‘By the way, I’m building a wall, hand us a lot of money?'”

DeSantis responded on X, formerly Twitter, saying it’s “bad enough” that Trump admitted his “famous promise” was an “empty campaign slogan.”

The Florida governor then outlined the “legal mechanism” to make Mexico pay for it.

“What makes it worse is that there is actually a way to get Mexico to pay for the wall: impose fees on remittances sent to Mexico (and other countries) by illegal aliens,” he said. “As President, I will get this done. No more bluster! Results are all that matter!”

Tuesday morning, the DeSantis War Room, a social media arm of DeSantis’ campaign, released a video combining Trump’s 2023 remarks with his 2016 campaign message.

“I will have Mexico pay for that wall,” he said during a 2016 campaign speech.

“They’ll be happy to pay for it,” he said years ago. “Then they say – you can’t Mexico to pay for the wall! … Trust me, Mexico will pay.”

The 2024 Republican presidential primary continues with Trump holding a massive 40-point-plus lead over his nearest competitor, DeSantis, who hovers near 14% national support to Trump’s 56%.

DeSantis has seen a very minor, but statistically visible, polling average rebound since bottoming out near 12% in September.

His campaign is hoping to gain momentum with a public debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and has been more vocal in criticizing Trump, whom the governor also recently challenged to a one-on-one debate.

DeSantis’ campaign is also focusing on early primary or caucusing states like Iowa and New Hampshire.

Trump leads President Joe Biden in a 2024 rematch by 1.2%, within the margin of error, but leaps better than 2020 polling.