Trump reiterates call for Mexico to foot 'border wall' bill

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US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday stressed again that Mexico will ultimately burden the cost of building a border wall, but hinted that the US government will finance the wall initially for the "sake of speed."

"The dishonest media does not report that any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!" Trump told his 18.8 million Twitter followers.

The fiery words were likely in response to media reports on Thursday that Trump's team had asked congressional Republicans to fund the project as early as April, raising eyebrows that this may break Trump's campaign promise of charging Mexico for it.

A newly built section of the US-Mexico border wall at Sunland Park, US, opposite the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, November 9, 2016. /CFP Photo‍

Trump has previously said that Mexico takes advantage of the United States "by using illegal immigration to export the crime and poverty in their own country" over the border.

Building a wall between the United States and Mexico was a central and controversial part of Trump's campaign pledge, which drew support from low income voters who believe that their jobs have been taken away by Mexicans, as well as attracting ire from opponents who said the wall would be a symbol of xenophobia.

Trump rhetoric regarding the controversial wall has softened since he won the election, saying in an interview in November that on parts of the border a fence would suffice.

So far there has been no detailed proposal from Trump's transition team regarding the construction of the wall, including who would actually pay for the project and a specific timeline.

(Story adapted from Xinhua)