Trump 'wanted border wall to have alligator-filled moat to slow migrants down'
2 October 2019, 13:05
Donald Trump wanted his US-Mexico border wall to have an alligator-filled moat to stop anyone from crossing illegally, it has been claimed.
The US President also allegedly wanted border guards to shoot immigrants in the legs to slow them down - despite being told this would be illegal.
It is also claimed he requested for the wall to be electrified with spikes "sharp enough to pierce human skin" put on top.
In one of the more outlandish requests, he is said to have demanded a "water-filled trench" which would be "stocked with snakes or alligators."
White House staff allegedly tried to find a "cost estimate" for this moat.
Now the press is trying to sell the fact that I wanted a Moat stuffed with alligators and snakes, with an electrified fence and sharp spikes on top, at our Southern Border. I may be tough on Border Security, but not that tough. The press has gone Crazy. Fake News!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2019
The President took to Twitter to dispel the claims as "fake news".
He wrote: "I may be tough on Border Security, but not that tough".
He accused the press of being "crazy", saying that the press is "trying to sell that fact that I wanted a Moat stuffed with alligators and snakes, with an electrified fence and sharp spikes on top, at our Southern Border."
The allegations have been made in a new book, Border Wars: Inside Trump's Assault On Immigration.
According the authors, New York Times journalists Michael D Shear and Julie Hirschfield Davis, he was a pivotal voice in having people removed if they opposed him.
On one occasion, when advisors prevented him from suddenly shutting down the border he went into a rage.
He reportedly shouted: "You are making me look like an idiot! I ran on this. It's my issue."
But his staff, including including then homeland secretary chief Kirstjen Nielsen and son-in-law Jared Kushner, left a meeting "in a panic" to plead with Trump to change his mind.
Despite their request, he pressed on with shutting down the border and told customs and border protection chief Kevin McAleenan to stop admitting migrants.
The book also claims Trump offered to pardon McAleenan if he got into trouble for carrying out the Presidential orders.
But McAleenan is alleged to have told border agents they did not have authority to stop processing migrants and to ignore Trump's orders.
