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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

Kristof: ‘I keep my promises,’ Trump said. Let’s check.

Photo by John Raoux of The Associated Press / President Donald Trump speaks at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Jupiter, Florida.
Photo by John Raoux of The Associated Press / President Donald Trump speaks at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Jupiter, Florida.

Four years ago as a candidate, President Donald Trump made more than 280 campaign promises. Let’s see how he did:

“I will build a great, great wall on our Southern border …” (speech, June 16, 2015)

While Trump so far has built 307 miles of walls along the 1,984-mile border, much of this replaces previous barriers that were dilapidated or blocked only vehicles.

“… and I will have Mexico pay for that wall.”

Mexico is not paying for it. The new wall is costing about $30 million per mile and will be expensive to maintain, for human smugglers have cut open the wall with $50 cordless saws.