U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his first prime-time national address from the White House on Tuesday to reiterate his belief that there's an illegal immigration "crisis" at America's southern border with Mexico.
He implored the Democrats to free up the necessary funding for his envisioned border wall, saying it's a matter of national security.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
On the 18th day of the government shutdown,... U.S. President Donald Trump addressed his nation on prime time TV to reiterate the need to fund his border wall,... and to address the (quote) "growing humanitarian and security crisis" at the southern border.
During the nine minute speech,... President Trump said the government shutdown is due to the Democrats' unwillingness to fund border security,... accusing them of refusing to "acknowledge the crisis".
Shortly after Trump was done, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi delivered their response.
"Last night, the president spouted more malice and misinformation appealing to fear instead of facts. The reality is that the president could end the shutdown and reopen government today and he should. Instead, he is holding the American people hostage to his ineffective expensive wall and withholding paychecks for hard working Americans."
"Why should TSA officers to go without their hard earned pay while they protect our airports? Why should we ask food safety inspectors to go without their hard earned pay while they ensure the food we eat is safe? Why should we ask prison guards to go without their hard earned pay while they keep the public safe? It makes no sense. None of these things have anything to do with a five billion dollar request to fund the wall, which of course, Mexico is still not paying for."
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also responded,... insisting he would not get involved in discussions over the wall,... saying it's an internal U.S. political matter.
He added Mexico wants ties that are always "friendly" with the U.S.,... reiterating it's a cooperative relationship between the two neighbors.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
