Trump: I see a border wall and want to paint it black. Noem: Black as night. Black as coal. I wanna see the sun. Frozen up in the sky.

• Policy Change: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the entire U.S.–Mexico border wall will be painted black. The purpose? To make the metal structure absorb more heat and become too hot to climb, thus acting as a deterrent. She credited this idea directly to President Trump.

• Visuals & Visit: During a visit to a section of the wall in New Mexico, Noem personally applied some of the paint, emphasizing how the wall’s height and depth—combined with its new dark color—will help prevent both climbing and tunneling.

• Practical Benefits: U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks noted that the black paint could also help protect the metal from rust.

• Broader Strategy: This painting measure forms part of a broader border enforcement push under the Trump administration. Congress recently approved roughly $46 billion in funding via the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” for wall completion. Other enhancements include cameras, sensors, and water-based infrastructure, especially in areas along the Rio Grande.

Source: CBS NEWS