Josep Borrell, Spanish Foreign Minister, has said US President Donald Trump suggested his country should build a wall across the Sahara desert as part of efforts to address migration from Africa.
According to Borrell, who was said to have made the remarks on Tuesday during a lunch at Club Siglo XXI in Madrid, while referring to the increase in the number of African youth migrants, Trump made the remark recently.
An audio file obtained by CNN noted that the minister impersonated Trump’s voice as he said: “You need to build a wall around the Sahara,” referring to Trump’s statement.
Borrell said when Trump was asked if he was aware of the size of the Sahara desert, the latter replied: “It can’t be bigger than our border with Mexico.”
Borrell continued: “Well, yes, it is way bigger than the border with Mexico, and in any case it wouldn’t be very useful to do that.”
Although he declined further comments on the issue, a spokesman for the Spanish Foreign Ministry confirmed Borrell’s comments to CNN.
CNN’s request for comments from the White House was not responded to.
