President Trump tore into Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday for “doing a terrible job” leading the state of California, criticizing Brown’s lax immigration policies during a visit to the construction site of several border wall prototypes.
“I think Governor Brown has done a very poor job running California,” the president told reporters. “They have the highest taxes. You have criminals living in sanctuary cities. I think the governor is doing a terrible job.”
Touting his ownership of a luxury golf course in Los Angeles, Trump said the taxes in California have reached a point where some residents will soon be forced to leave.
“I have property in California and I will say, the taxes are way out of whack,” he said. “People are going to start to move pretty soon.”
The president’s comments came as he was reviewing eight wall prototypes near the Southwest border in San Diego, where Customs and Border Protection officials have spent the past five months working evaluating the 30-foot structures for their ability to withstand breaches and severe weather.
“We’re looking very much at the wall with some see-through capability on the other side,” Trump said, gesturing toward one of the prototypes with a bollard-style lower half.
Trump also said his administration plans to build the whole wall during his first term, criticizing Brown and other California Democrats who have advocated for a gradual approach or entirely opposed construction of a new barrier.
“We’re not going to do your little pieces that you want,” he said.
The president was set to speak with military veterans, in addition to attending a fundraiser later Tuesday, following his visit to the prototype construction site.
