President Donald Trump traveled to the Rio Grande Valley earlier today to promote the completion of more than 400 miles of border wall in Alamo just days before he is expected to leave office.
The border wall is just one of several promises the president made to voters in his 2016 campaign. In a video by the White House before leaving for the RGV, the president said the wall has been successful.
“It’s been tremendously successful, far beyond what anyone thought,” Trump said. “We’re stopping, in large numbers, the drugs coming into the country for many, many years and decades. We’re stopping a lot of illegal immigration.”
In a video of his speech in Alamo, Trump said he inherited open borders where people were pouring in at will and has now completed a promise, he said, other politicians didn’t come through with.
“But unlike those who came before me, I kept my promises,” he said. “And today we celebrate an extraordinary milestone: the completion of the promised 450 miles of border wall.”
The president was expected to arrive at Valley International Airport in Harlingen where he would take Marine One to McAllen. Once in McAllen, he would travel to Alamo to speak.
In a statement by Alamo City Manager Robert Salinas, he nor the city commission were made aware of the president’s visit but urged for any demonstrations to remain peaceful.
“Regarding any potential protests or support for the President, we ask that all demonstrations are peaceful and respectful towards our law enforcement personnel and our surrounding communities,” Salinas said.
McAllen mayor Jim Darling issued a similar statement, adding it is not within his authority to prevent the president from visiting.
In contrast, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. issued a news release asking for Trump to not travel to the Valley or to Cameron County, citing health and safety risks.
“We are requesting that President Trump not travel to Cameron County or the Rio Grande Valley as such a public event may trigger similar conduct and further affect the current severe COVID-19 crisis located in Cameron County and the Rio Grande Valley,” Treviño said.
This is the first public event for Trump since the rioters attacked the Capitol where a joint session of Congress was meeting to validate Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden.
Members of Congress, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have urged for Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th amendment which would deem the president unfit to hold office.
Trump said the 25th amendment would not affect him but made a warning for Biden.
“The 25th Amendment is of zero risk to me but will come back to haunt Joe Biden and the Biden administration,” he said “As the expression goes: Be careful what you wish for.”
This is the president’s second visit to the RGV to visit the border after a visit in January 2019. The president left back home at 3 p.m.
For Vaquero News, I’m Justin Elizalde.
A crowd of people attempt to take photos and videos of President Donald Trump as he thanks the crowd for their support before boarding Marine One to fly to McAllen. Trump is making his second visit to the Rio Grande Valley to mark the completion of the border wall at the 450th mile of the wall in Alamo.
