Boy Who Was Called ‘Little Hitler’ for Selling Hot Cocoa for Border Wall Raises $22,000

Tiffany Meier
By Tiffany Meier
June 1, 2019US News
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Boy Who Was Called ‘Little Hitler’ for Selling Hot Cocoa for Border Wall Raises $22,000
A section of the US-Mexico border fence seen from Tijuana, in Baja California state, Mexico, on March 26, 2019. (Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty Images)

A 7-year-old boy in Texas raised $22,000 to help President Donald Trump’s border wall by selling hot chocolate despite being called “a little Hitler” by some naysayers.

Benton Stevens from Austin, Texas, joined organizers of “We Build The Wall” for the ribbon cutting ceremony in front of a newly-built section after he donated the $22,000 he’s raised so far, reported KFOX-TV.

Even though he’s managed to raise $22,000 thus far, his goal is $50,000, according to KOAT.

“Benton watched President Trump discuss border security, building the wall and protecting our nation and he immediately decided ‘I want to help President Trump build the wall!'” his mother Jennifer Stevens wrote on the GoFundMe page.

She also told KXAN at the time that after her son begged her to let him set up a stand to sell hot chocolate, the family decided to pitch in. On Feb. 16, Benton Stevens set up the stand and made $231 in sales in the first hour of selling hot chocolate at $2 per cup, reported the news station.

When asked about his inspiration for raising the funds, Stevens said he “saw that Trump really wanted to build a wall,” according to KOAT.

His venture became quite successful as he raised $1,400 cash in 3 hours over the span of two days, according to the GoFundMe.

While many people were supportive, there were also people who “think he’s brainwashed,” his mother told KXAN. Both she and her husband Shane are active members of the Republican National Committee.

“Well, of course, he supports Trump because we do,” she added. “Call that brainwashing, but I call it parenting, because we instill our values in him.”

Stevens said one person even called Benton “a little Hitler.”

She said, “A guy pointed at him in his car and then he said that we didn’t like brown people. I don’t understand that at all.”

“If he’s going to do it, he needs to learn that there’s going to be a little backlash,” his father told CBS Austin at the time. “But I just wish [the critics] would do it in a little more respectful, adult-like manner.”

Despite the criticism, Benton pushed through and managed to raise $22,000, which he donated to Brian Kolfage’s nonprofit, “We Build The Wall.”

Founded by Purple Heart recipient and triple-amputee veteran Brian Kolfage, the nonprofit has raised over $23 million since December.

The construction of the privately-funded section of the wall has met with controversy as the local government served the nonprofit with a “cease and desist order.”

While progress was momentarily stopped due to protestors, Kolfage wrote on Twitter that the project “was given the green light yesterday afternoon by the city of Sunland Park to resume construction, and our permits were re-issued. From the start We Build The Wall, Inc complied with all regulations as required by law as we stated.”

Kolfage also gave a shoutout to Stevens on Twitter, writing: “This incredible young man Benton from Austin Texas raised $22k for We Build The Wall, Inc. He was one of our biggest donors and only 7 years old! It shows you that no matter what you can always make a large impact you just need to work hard!”

Benton even got a shoutout from Donald Trump Jr, who wrote on Twitter: “Love American entrepreneurship. Well done buddy! Benton Stevens of Austin sells hot chocolate for border wall money.”

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