President Trump: Construction of border wall will begin in 'months'

NEW YORK — In his first one-on-one interview since being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, President Donald Trump told ABC News anchor David Muir that Mexico would be paying for the proposed border wall and that negotiations between the two nations would begin "relatively soon."

"Ultimately, it will come out of what's happening with Mexico ... and we will be in a form reimbursed by Mexico, which I've always said," Trump said.

During the interview, which took place at the White House this morning, Trump said that Mexico would pay the U.S. back "100 percent."

He confirmed that U.S. taxpayer dollars would be used to start the construction but said reimbursement would follow.

"All it is, is we'll be reimbursed at a later date from whatever transaction we make from Mexico," he said. "I'm just telling you there will be a payment. It will be in a form, perhaps a complicated form. What I'm doing is good for the United States. It's also going to be good for Mexico. We want to have a very stable, very solid Mexico."

When asked about the start of construction, Trump said it would happen in "months."

"As soon as we can, as soon as we can physically do it," he said. "I would say in months, yea. I would say in months -- certainly planning is starting immediately."

Catch more of the exclusive one-hour primetime special "President Trump: The First Interview" with David Muir tonight at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

Cox Media Group