Trump continues push for border wall
President Donald Trump made his case to Americans on Tuesday that a “crisis” at the US border with Mexico required a wall in a prime-time address aimed at building support for a campaign promise that has sparked an 18-day government shutdown.
Trump’s Oval Office remarks were the president’s latest attempt to convince Democrats, not to mention furloughed government workers, to support his push for a steel barrier on the US southern border that he says is needed to curb the flow of drugs and illegal immigration.
All the major US television networks agreed to air Trump’s speech.
This prompted Democrats, who say a wall would be expensive, inefficient and immoral, to seek equal time.
“Now that the television networks have decided to air the President’s address, Democrats must immediately be given equal airtime,” said a joint statement issued by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
“We made progress in establishing the fact that we do have a humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border. ” vice-president Mike Pence said.
The emphasis on a crisis came as Trump was considering declaring a national emergency. This would be aimed at bypassing Congress and build the controversial wall without its approval.
He had promised a wall as a candidate for the White House in 2016, making it one of his signature campaign issues and saying Mexico would pay for it.
In December, he said he would be “proud” to shut the government down over the issue.
Last week, he said the shutdown could last for months or even years. –