BORDER/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WALL: “President Trump claimed during his visit to the U.S. southern border on Thursday [1-10-19] that wheels predated the creation of the wall — launching almost immediate reaction on social media. But was he correct? The president, during his comments in a roundtable event with lawmakers and Border Patrol officials, made the argument for funding a wall along the U.S. – Mexican border by criticizing Democrats and dubbing it a medieval solution that works…When it comes to walls, one of the first known walls used in civilization to enclose a city was the Wall of Jericho, which surrounded one of the first permanent settlements. The wall is an ancient comparison to Trump’s plan for the southern border and used stones instead of concrete or steel. It also only enclosed a town that spanned about 430,000 square feet — rather than separating two countries. The U.S. – Mexico border spans about 1,933 miles. Jericho’s settlement is traced back to about 9000 B.C., according to Britannica. Around the same time, walls have been traced as being used in a temple in Urfa, located in southeast Turkey. The first wheel, however, is traced back to about 3500 B.C., thousands of years after walls, meaning the president was incorrect in his statements.”
–Christal Hayes, “President Trump claims a wheel is older than a wall in plea for border wall. Is he right?,” USA Today, January 10, 2019 6:58 pm