NRSC chairman: Trump’s wall ‘not the right way’

The chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is rejecting President Trump’s keystone proposal for border security, saying “a wall is not the right way to proceed.”

During a Wednesday telephone town hall with constituents, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Col.) said building a wall is neither the most cost-effective nor the most secure way of closing the U.S.-Mexico.

“As far as the wall goes, I believe we have to have border security, but I do think billions of dollars on a wall is not the right way to proceed,” Gardner said.

{mosads}”I don’t support a tariff to pay for any kind of wall,” he added.

Politico first reported the town hall audio.

Gardner previously expressed doubt about the wall in late February.

“I don’t think the wall is the best idea,” Gardner said at the time

The new audio suggests his opinion of the wall proposal has solidified.

“We do need security on the border, that may mean personnel. It may mean a fence. That may mean an electronic fence,” Gardner said. “But we shouldn’t just build a wall and add billions of dollars because that’s what somebody said should be done.”

Trump repeatedly promised to build a border wall during his successful White House bid, insisting Mexico will cover the costs, which government officials have reportedly estimated at as much as $21 billion.

Gardner’s office did not respond immediately to The Hill’s request for comment Thursday.

Asked Thursday if he thought Trump could deliver on getting Mexico to foot the bill for the massive project, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) responded, “Uh, no.”