President Biden said that he had tried to "redirect" the money from the border wall project—allocation under the Trump administration.

"The money was appropriated for the border wall. I tried to get them to reappropriate, to redirect that money," President Biden said in his address. "They didn't. They wouldn't. In the meantime, there's nothing under the law other than they have to use the money for what it was appropriated for. I can't stop that," he said.

When the president was asked a follow-up question about whether he thought the border wall was effective, he replied with a firm "no."

Similarly, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre offered a clear answer to reporters about the administration's stance during an Oct. 5 press briefing, saying: "We believe there are better, effective ways to secure the border.

"We asked Congress to reappropriate the fund, but they refused to do it. We need better technology, not a wall."

When asked repeatedly about the issue, the press secretary seemed frustrated, insisting that the president has been consistent in his approach to border security.