The promise to ‘build the wall’ worked for Trump as a candidate, and he continues to use it as president. But in his highly performative presidency, Mr Trump values its symbolic importance. This explains the second-longest government shutdown in the US, as Mr Trump demands a $5.7bn downpayment on a pointless and very expensive project. Yet however this ends, Mr Trump may feel the wall is as useful as ever. Mr Trump looks increasingly anxious for a deal in the trade war he started with China.

Source: The Guardian January 09, 2019 18:30 UTC