Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, recently announced in New Mexico that the border wall would be repainted entirely black, on the direct orders of President Donald Trump.
Trump's wall at the southern U.S. border will be painted black in an attempt to make things worse for migrants crossing the border, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced.
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast.bsky.social) 2025-08-20T11:53:24.783020Z
According to her, the paint is intended to make the surface warmer and therefore harder for migrants to climb.

Noem also pointed out that this would prevent rust and increase the structure's durability.
The idea is not new, having already been proposed during Donald Trump's first presidential term.

However, several sources, including the Washington Post, point out that a paint test carried out in 2019 had begun to peel in less than 18 months, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the process.