Trump repeats call for a wall
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump told Americans in his State of the Union address yesterday that illegal immigration was an urgent national crisis and he vowed to build a border wall as he sought funding for a project rejected by Democrats.
‘‘In the past, most of the people in this room voted for a wall, but the proper wall never got built. I will get it built,’’ Trump said in the highly anticipated speech before a joint session of the US Congress, with his main Democratic adversary, new House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, watching over his shoulder.
Trump used part of his speech to offer a spirit of compromise, but whether he and his opponents would follow through was far from clear with both sides entrenched in longheld positions and girding for 2020 elections.
The Republican president appeared in the House chamber just weeks after his demand for $US5.7 billion ($NZ8.3 billion) in funding for a USMexico border wall triggered a historic 35day partial government shutdown that more than half of Americans blamed him for, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
The nationally televised address gave Trump his biggest opportunity to date to explain why he believes a barrier is needed on the US southern border with Mexico. The speech was delayed for a week because of the shutdown, which ended on January 25.
Democrats call the wall a waste of money, ineffective and immoral.
Trump criticised attempts by House Democrats to investigate his personal finances and various aspects of his administration, saying they would put US economic growth at risk.
‘‘An economic miracle is taking place in the United States and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics, or ridiculous partisan investigations,’’ he said.
Pelosi, who wore white like many Democrats to celebrate the 100th anniversary of American women gaining the right to vote, applauded lightly but frequently sat stonyfaced through Trump’s address. She has not budged from opposing Trump’s wall funding demand.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer yesterday criticised Trump over the economy, healthcare and other issues. ‘‘The president will say the state of the union is strong but the American people know the state of the Trump Administration is chaos,’’ he said.
Trump declared the Islamic State militant group all but defeated. — Reuters