US-Mexico Barrier: Trump demands wall on 'crisis' border in TV address
Updated 14:29, 12-Jan-2019
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Now to the latest on the US government shutdown. President Donald Trump says there is a "growing humanitarian and security crisis" at the US-Mexico border. He made the remark during a prime-time TV address to convince Americans that he needs billions of dollars from Congress, for his long-promised border wall. Democrats then fired back immediately after. CGTN's Mark Fontes has the story.
Trump still wants his wall.
DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "Tonight I am speaking to you because there is a growing humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border. The Federal Government remain shutdown for one reason and one reason only, because Democrats will not fund border security."
Shortly after his address, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer gave their rebuttal. They accused the president of spreading misinformation.
NANCY PELOSI US SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE "The President's rejecting these bills which will reopen government, over his obsession with forcing American Taxpayers to waste billions of dollars on an expensive, and ineffective wall."
CHUCK SCHUMER SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER "So our suggestion is a simple one. Mr. President, reopen the government, and we can work to resolve our differences over border security, but end this shutdown now."
Trump appeared to be willing to continue seeking a solution to the impasse with Congress. This comes after he hinted for days that he might declare a national emergency, as a first step toward bypassing Congress and directing money for the wall.
If such an emergency is declared, the president will be able to control internet traffic, freeze assets or even deploy troops to 'restore order'. In the US, the president can unilaterally announce a national emergency.
And once it's declared, neither Congress nor the courts could do much to rein in the president. But can declaring a national emergency be justified in this case? Historian and writer Rick Shenkman doesn't think so.
What will Trump do? We'll just have to wait and see.