Tim Walz Quips About Investing in “30-Foot Ladder Factory” in Response to Trump’s Border Wall Plan
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz showcased his political wit during a CNN interview with Anderson Cooper on July 30, 2024, when he responded to former President Donald Trump’s border wall plans with a sharp and humorous remark. “He talks about this wall. I always say, ‘Let me know how high it is. If it’s 25 feet, then I’ll invest in the 30-foot ladder factory,'” Walz quipped.
The comment quickly went viral, becoming a rallying cry for Democrats opposed to Trump’s immigration policies. It effectively captured the sentiment that Trump’s wall proposal was an outdated and ineffective solution to a complex issue. But Walz didn’t just rely on humor—he offered a more comprehensive view of border security.
“That’s not how you stop this. You stop this using electronics, you stop it using more Border Patrol agents, and you stop it by having a legal system that allows for that tradition of allowing folks to come here just like my relatives did, to come here, be able to work and establish the American dream,” Walz explained, according to The New York Post.
He argued that Trump’s approach was less about practical solutions and more about creating division, saying, “He’s not interested in that. He wants to demonize.” The Minnesota governor also emphasized the importance of immigrants to the U.S. economy, particularly in his home state. “Look, we produce most of the turkeys that you’re going to eat on Thanksgiving [in Minnesota].
Those are immigrants working hard, establishing themselves here. What is [Trump] going to do? Is he going to take them all out? And how is the economy going to work?” Walz asked, highlighting the crucial role immigrants play in various industries.
Walz further addressed the broader immigration debate by pointing out that most Americans, regardless of political affiliation, simply want a secure border without vilifying their neighbors. “My neighbors, whether they’re Republican or Democrats, don’t want to demonize their neighbors, as per Politico.
They just want a safe border,” Walz said, adding that the bipartisan Lankford-Sinema bill was key to achieving that goal—something he claimed Trump rejected in favor of chaos and division. Meanwhile, Trump continued to push his hardline immigration stance. During a rally in Arizona on September 12, 2024, Trump reiterated familiar points, warning of an influx of migrants and their alleged threats to the country.
He even repeated a baseless claim about Haitian migrants stealing geese and pets in Springfield, sparking criticism and social media memes. Instead of retracting the claims, Trump doubled down, drawing attention to his controversial rhetoric.
