Is the GoFundMe Campaign for Trump's Border Wall Likely to Reach Its Goal of $1 Billion?

The idea of a GoFundMe campaign for Donald Trump's proposed border wall is quite humorous and perhaps a bit disconcerting. Let's break it down and see how likely it is to reach the goal of $1 billion.

Financial Feasibility of the Campaign

Firstly, the financial viability of raising $1 billion through a crowdfunding platform like GoFundMe is highly unlikely for several reasons. According to experts, if the campaign wants to reach this ambitious goal, it would need 994 million donors contributing a mere $1 each, or approximately 100,000 donors putting in $8,500 each—figures that are practically unattainable.

The question posed was, "What will happen if the GoFundMe for Trump's border wall doesn't reach its $1 billion goal?" If the campaign fails and doesn't devolve into a massive fraud, there are a few potential outcomes:

Potential Outcomes If the Campaign Fails to Meet Its Goal

1. Donation to Charity or Refund: The individual or entity who initiated the campaign will either donate the collected funds to a charity or have them refunded to the donors. Given the lack of formal oversight, it is very probable that there will be a significant risk of the founder siphoning off some funds, despite the possibility of crowdfunding platforms having certain safeguards.

2. No Official Acceptance by the Federal Government: If the campaign does reach its goal, the federal government cannot accept the funds for their intended purpose. This could leave the collected money in limbo, potentially used for other unspecified purposes.

The Reality of Trump’s Border Wall Proposal

The concept of a border wall being built for $1 billion is laughable, at best. Current estimates for the construction of a wall bordering the United States and Mexico range from $21 billion to $70 billion. This campaign, even if successful, would only raise a fraction of the necessary funds.

The Wall’s Limitations and Unfeasibility

Further complicating the feasibility of building such a wall is its actual practicality. Walls are ineffective over water and difficult to construct across mountainous regions. A $70 billion wall would still leave significant gaps for Mexicans to illegally enter the country.

Moreover, the idea of a wall being impenetrable is flawed. Mexicans are highly resourceful and would find many solutions to overcome such obstacles. Scavengers might dismantle and sell the metal for scrap, engineers could find ways to bypass or break through the wall, and tunnels could be constructed to facilitate entry.

Addressing these points, we can conclude that:

The GoFundMe campaign for Trump's border wall is more likely to end in failure, with the collected funds being either donated to charity or returned to donors. The actual feasibility of building a border wall for $1 billion is highly questionable, given the enormous cost estimates and the impracticality of such a structure. Given current circumstances, it is more realistic to view the campaign as a satirical comment on the unrealistic nature of Trump’s border wall proposal rather than a serious financial endeavor.

So, while the campaign may have raised significant awareness, it is unlikely to realize its $1 billion goal, and the proposed wall remains a nonsensical idea in terms of both feasibility and effectiveness.