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"We can have all the drones in the world flying around, we can have all the sensors in the world but if you don't have a strong steel or concrete barrier there is no way you are going to stop these people from rushing [in]," Trump said in a speech to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
A US Border Patrol agent rides a vehicle on the beach in San Diego.Credit:AP
"There is no substitute for a wall or physical barrier. There is no substitute."
Trump said he agreed with critics that the idea of a border wall was "medieval" but this did not mean it was a bad idea. Wheels were also a medieval invention but are still used today, he said.
"Wheels work and walls work," he said.
Trump urged supporters to contact Democratic members of congress and lobby them to vote in favour of a border wall, his signature promise of the 2016 election campaign. But there is growing evidence that the president has failed to rally the public behind his cause.
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A new poll by Quinnipiac University released on Monday found that 63 per cent of Americans oppose shutting down the government to fund the wall while 32 per cent support it. Most respondents blamed Trump and congressional Republicans for the shutdown, which has left 800,000 federal workers without pay.
The poll found 59 per cent of Americans believe a wall is not a good use of taxpayer dollars and is not necessary to protect the border.
An overwhelming majority of Republicans support a wall but 63 per cent of independents said it was not a good use of taxpayer money.
A slew of other polls in recent days have shown that most voters blame Trump for the shutdown.
Trump on Monday said America's immigration laws were "sick" and "demented" and needed to be overhauled.
Farmers - who form a key part of Trump's support base - have been among those hit by the shutdown because of delays in loan applications and an inability to access federal aid.
But Trump said many farmers believe a wall is of "paramount importance" and were willing to make personal sacrifices to stop migrants illegally crossing the border.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump blamed “known scoundrels” and “dirty cops” at the FBI and the Justice Department for opening an investigation in 2017 into whether he was working on Russia's behalf.
"I never worked for Russia," Trump said. "Not only did I never work for Russia, I think it’s a disgrace that you even asked that question because it’s a whole big fat hoax. It’s just a hoax."
Matthew Knott is a Fairfax Media reporter based in the United States. He previously worked in the Canberra press gallery and recently finished a Masters of Journalism at Columbia University in New York.