[WHITE HOUSE SOURCES] Trump Floats 'Paywall' on the U.S.-Mexico Border - Scan to Cross
According to a person "familiar with the discussion" who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, former President Donald Trump recently floated a new border proposal in a private meeting: a "paywall" along the U.S.-Mexico border that would allow would-be entrants to cross by paying on the spot.
Unlike the towering concrete-and-steel barrier traditionally associated with border security, this wall would be deliberately low - "not tall, but fully equipped," as one attendee described it. The concept centers on payment terminals installed at regular intervals, turning the border into something resembling a long line of toll gates. In the proposed system, travelers would simply scan a QR code, complete payment, and pass through.
A conceptual mock-up of the proposed border paywall system.
The idea, sources say, is less about physical obstruction and more about what Trump described as "filtering for attitude." He reportedly argued that conventional border walls are "too old-school" and that modern border management should reflect "order, innovation, and the market."
"It's not about the wall," Trump said during the meeting, according to one person briefed on the remarks. "It's about whether you've got the attitude to pay."
A preliminary outline circulating among aides suggests the paywall would support multiple payment methods, including credit and debit cards, USDT (a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin), and a yet-to-be-defined "Patriot Points" system. Under that points scheme, people could supposedly earn credits through activities such as watching campaign speeches, sharing approved content, or demonstrating support for "American values" - though officials have not provided any details on how those points would be calculated or verified.
A conceptual mock-up described by sources shows a waist-to-chest-high barrier with bold signage reading: "WELCOME TO AMERICA - PLEASE PAY FIRST." After payment, the gate would reportedly emit a confirmation beep and display a short message: "Thank you for your patriotism."
People familiar with Trump's thinking say he views the plan as a three-in-one solution - recasting a political fight as an economic model, a tech deployment, and a cultural test. Trump has also suggested, according to the same sources, that if successful the United States could become "the first country to truly monetize its border."
Online reaction was swift once word of the concept spread. Supporters framed it as a market-based approach to a decades-long dispute, while critics and comedians mocked it as "a border wall that can't stop illegal entry, but can definitely stop being broke." Some commentators joked that, if the idea caught on, similar "paywalls" could appear at airports, state lines, or even city entrances.
The White House has not publicly addressed the report or confirmed whether any such proposal is under formal consideration. But political observers noted that, real or not, the idea has already done what Trump's best messaging often does: dominate the conversation.
"Whether it gets built is almost beside the point," one analyst said. "In narrative terms, it's already charging admission."
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