President Donald Trump delivered an address from the Oval Office Tuesday blaming the partial government shutdown on Democrats’ refusal to fund a wall along the southern border of the United States.
The president spoke for eight minutes to make his case for funding a wall as the partial government shutdown enters its third week.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded to Trump’s speech saying the shutdown was manufactured by Trump for political reasons.
Democrats have vowed not to appropriate any money for a border wall. Trump says he needs $5.7 billion to build the wall.
Live updates:
9:26 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2019: Notes from the speech:
- "One in three women are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico. Women and children are the biggest victims by far of our broken system. This is the tragic reality of illegal immigration on our southern border."
- "This situation could be resolved in a 45 minute meeting," he said. "I have invited congressional leadership to the White House tomorrow to get this done."
- "We are out of space to hold them and we have no way to promptly return them back home to their country," Trump said.
- "All Americans are hurt by uncontrolled illegal migration," Trump said "It strains public resources and drives down jobs and wages."
9:18 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2019: Schumer calls for a separation of issues
Schumer says Trump has governed by fear and thrown "temper tantrums." He says the issues must be separated -- open the government, then fix the border issues.
9:14 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2019: Pelosi, Schumer are giving rebuttal
Speaker Pelosi says the wall is "expensive and ineffective." "We all agree we need to secure our borders," Pelosi says.
9:11 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2019: The speech is over
Trump finishes the speech. He did not declare a national emergency. He did repeat that the situation is a "humanitarian crisis." He said the Democrats are the reason for the shutdown.
9:08 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2019: The Democrats are the problem
Trump: "The government remains shut down for one reason and one reason only because Democrats will not fund the wall."
Trump: "It will be a steel barrier instead of a concrete wall." ... "It will be paid for by the trade deal we made with Mexico."
9:04 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2019: Women, children are the biggest victims
Trump says children being brought here and used as pawns, and that women and children are the biggest victims.
9 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2019: 'Thousands will be hurt if we don't act right now'
Trump: "All Americans are hurt by uncontrolled illegal migration." He says African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be hurt economically.
8:59 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2019: The address is about to start
The president will be speaking in a few minutes.
8:27 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2019: Manchin is for the deal
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, said that he would support a national emergency declaration if it ends the partial government shutdown. So far, no other Senate Democrat has expressed similar feelings about a national emergency declaration.
8:19 p.m ET Jan. 8, 2019: Chamber of Commerce calls for a deal
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to lawmakers Tuesday asking for a deal to reopen the government that would include enhanced border security measures along with protections for "dreamers" brought to the U.S. illegally as children. They are also calling for protection for those in the temporary protected status (TPS) program.
8:07 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2019: Will he declare a national emergency?
The New York Times is reporting that Trump will not declare a national emergency this evening in order to circumvent Congress to get funds to build the wall. According to the times, "administration officials who had seen a draft copy of his speech said the president was not preparing to do so."
7:55 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2019: What the White House wants
According to the White House, the president is asking for “$5.7 billion for construction of a steel barrier on the southern border to fund 234 miles of new physical barrier — an increase of $4.1 billion over the c ommittee bill.”
7:38 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2019: His first Oval Office speech
When President Trump delivers his speech tonight, it will be the first time he has given a speech from the Oval Office.