Live, from D.C., it’s Donald Trump!
Will address U.S.-Mexico border amid shutdown stalemate
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is ramping up his efforts to make a public case for his border wall as the partial government shutdown is now in its third week, planning a prime-time address Tuesday night and a visit to the border Thursday.
Trump announced the news of his presidential address in a Monday tweet.
“I am pleased to inform you that I will Address the Nation on the Humanitarian and National Security crisis on our Southern Border,” he said. “Tuesday night at 9:00 P.M. Eastern.”
Earlier Monday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced that Trump will travel to the U.S. border with Mexico on Thursday.
“President @realDonaldTrump will travel to the Southern border on Thursday to meet with those on the frontlines of the national security and humanitarian crisis,” she said. “More details will be announced soon.”
The presidential speech and visit come amid the continuing partial government shutdown and Trump’s insistence that any funding bill to reopen federal agencies include $5.7 billion for his border wall.
Trump made his first visit to the border as president 10 months ago. During that trip, Trump toured 30-foot-tall steel and concrete prototypes of the border wall in California and strongly condemned jurisdictions that offer “sanctuary” to undocumented immigrants.
The White House on Monday did not immediately release details on the site of Trump’s planned visit.