© Kevin Lamarque / ReutersU.S. President Donald Trump speaks while participating in a tour of U.S.-Mexico border wall prototypes in California. March 13, 2018.
The president told reporters during his tour that a real wall would stop "99 percent" of illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico. He said high walls were needed to keep out "incredible climbers."
"Getting over the top is easy. These are like professional mountain climbers, these are incredible climbers," Trump added. "They can't climb some of these walls, some of them they can."
So it was no surprise that Trump's first state visit to the Golden State garnered a less-than-glowing reception, with activists and community groups assembling in protest at his arrival.
Lawmakers have yet to approve Trump's proposed budget.
Plans for the border wall were solidified in January 2017, when Trump signed an executive order ordering the "construction of a physical wall."
Prototype guidelines said the wall must be "physically imposing" and "aesthetically pleasing."
The eight prototypes were erected at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego, California, and cost more than $300,000 each. The total cost of the prototypes was estimated at around $2.4 million.
The prototypes were not the only barrier Trump took in his stride. He criticised California Democratic Governor Jerry Brown's performance, telling reporters, "I think Governor Brown has done a very poor job running California."
"They have the highest taxes in the United States. The place is totally out of control. You have sanctuary cities, where they have criminals living in the sanctuary cities. And then the mayor of Oakland goes out an notifies when ICE is going in to pick them up," he said.
On Tuesday, Brown fought back on Twitter, saying "bridges are still better than walls."
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