The news came as a shock to residents in Southwest Colorado when President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he’s building a “beautiful” border wall in Colorado.
Well, not really.
During a speech at the Shale Insight Conference on Wednesday in Pennsylvania, Trump boasted about the border wall he wants between the U.S. and Mexico when he mentioned the Centennial State, which is more than 500 miles from Mexico.
“You know why we’re going to win New Mexico? Because they want safety on their border. And they didn’t have it. And we’re building a wall on the border of New Mexico, and we’re building a wall in Colorado. We’re building a beautiful wall, a big one that really works, that you can’t get over, you can’t get under. And we’re building a wall in Texas. And we’re not building a wall in Kansas, but they get the benefit of the walls that we just mentioned.”
Trump later tweeted that he made the comment “kiddingly,” and he was trying to say people in Colorado and Kansas will benefit from the border wall.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis had some fun with the gaffe when he wrote on Facebook:
“Well this is awkward ... Colorado doesn’t border Mexico. Good thing Colorado now offers free full-day kindergarten so our kids can learn basic geography.”
Trump is hardly the first politician to make a gaffe.
President Ronald Reagan said, “We begin bombing in five minutes,” while joking with reporters before a radio address in 1984 during the “second Cold War.” The comment was not broadcast live, but it was recorded and later leaked to the public.
Vice President Dan Quayle told a student to spell “potato” with an “e” on the end during a mock spelling bee in New Jersey.
And presidential candidate Barack Obama told a crowd in May 2008 that he had been to 57 states in the U.S. – and had one to go.
“It is just wonderful to be back in Oregon, and over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States,” Obama said. “I’ve now been in fifty ... seven states? I think one left to go.”
Here’s what residents had to say Thursday about Trump’s plan to build a border wall in Colorado:
“We’ll just make it into a climbing wall. That’s what Colorado does.”Claudia Kanne, part-time Durango resident
“I like what (Governor) Polis said: ‘Good thing Colorado now offers free full-day kindergarten so our kids can learn basic geography.’” Evan Adams, Durango
“I think people need to cut him some slack. Unselfishly, he’s taken care of the responsibility of our nation. I think people need to cut him some slack on one faux pas.” Gary G., Texas
“As a Native American, we should have built a wall a long time ago.”Evangelia Chavez, Fruitland, N.M., Navajo Nation
“I’d just move to Utah.”Bonnie Baking, Farmington
“Why doesn’t he build a wall along Colorado and Utah. That would be better.”Alan Golden, Grand Junction
“(To New Mexicans) We actually like you all. Plus sharpie stuff may stick to your feet but is non-toxic I think.Kirby Weaver, on The Journal’s Facebook page
“I think he had his geography wrong, and now he’s saying it was a joke to cover his mistake, like he does every time. Is this the stupidest (expletive) or what?”Gene Burditte
“All you can do is shake your head. And on a deeper level, it’s embarrassing.”
Cindy Nasky, Golden
“I’m against walls, period. And half of what he says is not believable. I’m not a fan at this point.”Hank Church, Durango
“That’s very interesting. I’m not sure I agree with his train of thought. I think he says things before he thinks about them. I’m hoping we’ll get him out of office in the next election.”
Amy Holland, Durango
“I think that’s pretty funny considering he had a few big rallies in Albuquerque in the last election. My reaction now is just the same – he’s a crazy person, unfortunately.”
Carlina Sanchez, Durango
“It sounds like a terrible idea. I’m not in favor of a wall between Mexico and the United States. Similarly, I’m not in favor of a wall between Colorado and New Mexico. It seems like a waste of money to me.”Jackson Hughes, Durango
“I think his comprehension of geography is off. I think it’s pretty sad that our president thinks Colorado has a border with Mexico. Yeah, it’s pretty sad.”
Sam Newbury, Hesperus
“It seems like a silly idea to me. It just sounds like he’s talking nonsense at this point. He’s proposing ideas without any real thought to them.”John Ericksen, Denver
“It’s like everyday he says something stupid, so I’m not surprised. He’s born into wealth with a gold spoon up his (butt). He doesn’t know the states. He doesn’t know the Constitution. Basic knowledge really, he doesn’t know.”
Roman Uskevits, Pueblo
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