On August 22, 2025, President Donald Trump lavished praise on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for her latest move to bolster the southern border wall’s effectiveness: painting the entire structure black. The initiative, announced by Noem earlier that week in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, is more than just a cosmetic change. According to Trump and Noem, the black paint is designed to make the steel wall too hot to climb under the intense border sun, while also preserving the metal from rust—two goals that, they argue, will further deter illegal crossings and extend the wall’s longevity.
"I didn’t know she was listening, but I said, ‘We gotta get a coat of paint, and it should be black because black makes the steel very hot. It’s untouchable, you could fry an egg on it, and if you got a good black, flat paint it would look beautiful, it will preserve it from rust, and that was it," Trump recounted during a press conference in the Oval Office, as reported by Fox News. The president added, "So I turn on last night and I see Kristi’s painting the wall, and it looked beautiful, by the way." Noem, standing beside him, responded with a smile: "It is beautiful, and it’s hot."
The painting project, which Noem described as a "one-coat job" in a lighthearted exchange with Trump, is the latest in a series of high-profile measures undertaken since Trump’s return to the White House. Noem, who took over DHS at the start of Trump’s second term, has become a visible figure in the administration’s push to restore and expand the border wall—an effort that had stalled under former President Joe Biden. According to Breitbart News, construction was restarted in January 2025, after Biden’s policies left "gaping holes" along the border.
Noem explained the rationale behind the black paint at a press event in Santa Teresa. "The wall’s height makes it extremely difficult to climb, and the structure extends into the ground to prevent digging underneath," she said. "Painting the wall black was a specific request from President Trump, as the paint would heat up in the sun and make it even harder to climb." Noem emphasized that this measure was about more than just deterrence: "Our borders and country will remain secure. To the men and women hard at work finishing the wall, you are saving American lives and protecting our way of life. Thank you."
The wall itself, Trump was quick to point out, is no ordinary fence. "I built the same wall that the Border Patrol asked me to build," he said, describing it as high-grade steel, reinforced with thick rebar, and set in 9,000-pound concrete. The new paint job, he argued, would only enhance its effectiveness. "If it’s white, it’s not hot. If it’s black, it’s going to be very hard to climb that sucker," Trump quipped, drawing laughter from the room.
Behind the scenes, the project has been buoyed by a significant injection of federal funding. As Noem announced, "One big, beautiful bill" passed by Congress in July 2025 allocated "an incredible amount of resources" for border security, enabling construction to continue at a pace of about half a mile of new wall per day. This rapid progress, she said, is evidence of the administration’s commitment to finishing the job.
But the wall is just one piece of a broader strategy that Noem and Trump say is restoring "operational security" at the border. Writing in USA TODAY, Noem claimed that as of August 23, 2025, "zero illegal immigrants were released into the country in May, June, and July." She credited this to a renewed focus on enforcement and a willingness to let law enforcement "uphold our laws, to get out of their way and to put excellence at the heart of everything we do."
The statistics cited by Noem are striking. According to her, 1.6 million illegal immigrants have left the United States under Trump’s leadership since January, and more than 3,000 members of the criminal gang Tren de Aragua, along with 600 known or suspected terrorists, have been arrested. The impact, she argues, is visible in American communities: "Homicides were down 17% in 30 cities through June compared with the same period in 2024."
Enforcement, Noem contends, is also benefiting the American economy. "Job gains, for example, are now going to American-born workers instead of workers here illegally," she wrote. Between January and July 2025, the American-born workforce increased by 2.5 million, a shift she attributes to increased deportations and voluntary departures among undocumented immigrants. "As they go, more Americans are finding steady and gainful employment," Noem stated.
Tariffs have also played a key role in the administration’s border and economic policies. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under Noem’s watch, has collected more than $150 billion in tariffs in 2025 alone, with a record $28 billion in June and over $29 billion in July. The administration argues that these tariffs are not only raising revenue but also encouraging businesses to open in the United States and source goods domestically, further fueling job growth and wage increases.
The tough stance on immigration enforcement appears to be resonating with some Americans. Noem noted that since July, about 100,000 U.S. citizens have applied to join Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "Their confidence has been restored in the American government, our heritage and the future," she wrote. "We want men and women who want to defend the nation's borders, our culture and the American way of life."
Critics, however, have questioned both the effectiveness and the symbolism of the wall and its new black paint job. While supporters argue that these measures are essential for national security and economic prosperity, opponents see them as costly, divisive, and unlikely to address the root causes of migration. The debate over border security remains as heated as ever, with both sides claiming the mantle of protecting American values and communities.
Still, for Trump and Noem, the message is clear: the border wall is not just a barrier but a symbol of renewed commitment to law and order. "A nation without borders is no nation at all," Noem declared at the Santa Teresa event. With the wall now gleaming black under the desert sun, the administration is betting that both its physical presence and its political symbolism will endure.
As the wall stretches across the southern landscape, painted black and reinforced with steel and concrete, it stands as a testament to the Trump administration’s determination to make good on its promises—one coat at a time.
