Trump tweeted a design for 'steel slats' along the border with spikes on top - and called it 'totally effective while at the same time beautiful'

Associated Press/Jacquelyn Martin

President Donald Trump speaks during a signing ceremony for H.R. 2, the "Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018," in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, on the White House complex, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, in Washington.

• President Donald Trump on Friday tweeted what he said was a design for a "Steel Slat Barrier" for the border, calling it "totally effective while at the same time beautiful!"
• The design appears to feature metal spikes at the top.
• In the last two days, Trump has begun demanding that Congress approve $5 billion in funding for his long-promised border wall, though he has pivoted in recent days to demanding "steel slats."
• The Department of Homeland Security said the design Trump tweeted is the same as fencing currently at the border in Calexico.

President Donald Trump on Friday tweeted an image of what he said was a design of his administration's "Steel Slat Barrier" intended for the US-Mexico border, complete with metal spikes at the top.

The tweet came amid turmoil within Congress as lawmakers struggled to reach a funding deal, hours before a partial government shutdown was set to begin.

In the last two days, Trump has begun demanding that Congress approve $5 billion in funding for his long-promised border wall, though he has pivoted in recent days to demanding "steel slats."

He speculated on Thursday that doing so would give Democratic lawmakers "a little bit of an out" to pass his requested funding.

"We don't use the word 'wall' necessarily, but it has to be something special to do the job - steel slats," he said.

Read more: Trump says he's 'prepared for a very long shutdown' after forcing border-wall money into the government-funding fight

The Republican-controlled House passed a continuing resolution on Thursday evening that included $5.7 billion for border security. The resolution will now go to the Senate, where it is almost certain to fail.

A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman told Business Insider that the design is the same that has been used in Calexico:

Getty Images/David McNew

Construction of a new fence takes place as U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen tours a replacement border fence construction site on April 18, 2018 in Calexico, California.

The fencing in Calexico, however, doesn't appear to feature the same sharply spiked tips as the design Trump tweeted.

The Trump administration has also been working on similar fencing projects throughout the last year, using "bollards" - spaced-out, hollow steel rods - as a barrier, usually with metal anti-climbing plates at the top.

Critics took to social media on Friday to mock Trump and the slat design: