Mike Pence has sidestepped questions about the ideal shape of Donald Trump’s proposed border wall.

During an interview that took place near America’s border with Mexico, the Vice President was repeatedly asked about what type of barrier should be constructed. He deferred to Mr Trump, saying the priority was securing as-yet-lacking financial backing.

“President Trump will make the final decision about the structure of the wall, but the first step is that Congress has to fund it,” Mr Pence told interviewer Ainsley Earhardt.

When Ms Earhardt noted that “we don’t have a wall all the way across the border” and asked Mr Pence to confirm that “you would like that to happen,” Mr Pence was noncommittal.

“President Trump made a commitment to the American people that we’re going to build a wall,” Mr Pence said. “That means we’re going to have a physical barrier on our southern border”.

Mr Trump has repeatedly said that a wall would only need to span about half the border, with natural obstacles like rivers accounting for the rest. Experts — including members of his own administration — have called building a wall the entire border unfeasible given the cost, legal hurdles and rough physical terrain.

Life on the US-Mexican border Show all 12 1 /12 Life on the US-Mexican border Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico A house stands next to a section of the border fence separating Mexico and the US Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico The border fence in Tijuana stretches all the way to beach Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Migrants can often be spotted trying to cross the rusty barrier Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Joaquin, 36, a chef from Guatemala who says he was deported from the US Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico A shack stands next to a section of the border fence Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Tourists pose for a picture at the border Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico A family burns rubbish near the fence Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Joaquin makes a living by selling rubbish Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico ‘Neither Trump nor the wall is going to stop anyone,’ says Pedro Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Mexicans have built homes right next to the fence Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Mexican Carlos, 27, who says that he was deported from the United States, heats up tortillas at his house near the double fence that separates Mexico and the US Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico A girl climbs stairs near a section of the fence

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said during her confirmation hearing that a wall from “sea to shining sea” was not needed, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly reportedly told members of Congress Mr Trump was not “fully informed” when he issued campaign pledges that included vowing Mexico would pay for the structure.

Mr Trump responded to the report of Mr Kelly’s statement by saying that his conception of the wall “never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it” and suggesting the barrier would not, in fact, span the entire border.

“Parts will be, of necessity, see through and it was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water,” Mr Trump said.