Former President Donald Trump has strongly criticized the Biden administration's practice of selling off unused border wall materials, characterizing it as an "almost criminal act" during a recent address from Mar-a-Lago. He argued that these sales force taxpayers to repurchase necessary resources at inflated prices, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in wasted expenditures.
Trump urged President Biden to halt the sales and indicated he is collaborating with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other Texas officials to reclaim the materials. He emphasized the financial burden of having to rebuild the wall at double the original cost if the existing materials are not recovered.
This criticism follows reports and videos showcasing the removal and auctioning of border wall materials. While a whistleblower alleged the administration's intention was to sell off all unused materials along specific Arizona border stations by Christmas, official statements indicate these materials were sold earlier this year through government surplus retailers, with no legal avenue for the government to halt their resale.
A Yuma County supervisor confirmed the ongoing sales, noting that while initial bids start low, the materials often sell for significantly higher prices. However, he disputed claims of increased sales as a pre-inauguration tactic. Trump highlighted the irony of potentially repurchasing these materials at exorbitant markups, framing it as an example of actions detrimental to the country's success, regardless of political affiliation.
Trump, emphasizing his commitment to government efficiency, decried the financial waste and called on Biden to cease the sales. He expressed hope that common sense would prevail in this matter.
