WASHINGTON (AP)—President Donald Trump says he will make a major announcement on the government shutdown and the southern border on Jan. 19.
The announcement will occur at 3 p.m. at the White House, the president said.
I will be making a major announcement concerning the Humanitarian Crisis on our Southern Border, and the Shutdown, tomorrow afternoon at 3 P.M., live from the @WhiteHouse.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2019
President Trump and Democrats in Congress remain far apart over Trump’s insistence on funding for a wall along the Mexican border as the price of reopening the government. The cost to build the wall is expected to be almost $6 billion.
The shutdown affects about one-quarter of the government, including nine Cabinet-level departments. Some 800,000 federal employees are off the job or working without pay.
President Trump criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi via social media for intending to leave the country for a foreign trip. Pelosi’s trip was postposed just minutes before the delegation was set to depart.
“Why would Nancy Pelosi leave the Country with other Democrats on a seven day excursion when 800,000 great people are not getting paid.”
Why would Nancy Pelosi leave the Country with other Democrats on a seven day excursion when 800,000 great people are not getting paid. Also, could somebody please explain to Nancy & her “big donors” in wine country that people working on farms (grapes) will have easy access in!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2019
Earlier in Jan. 18, the president tweeted that the GOP was “unified” and there would be “no ‘cave’ on the issue of Border and National Security.”
“A beautiful thing to see, especially when you hear the new rhetoric spewing from the mouths of the Democrats who talk Open Border, High Taxes and Crime. Stop Criminals & Drugs now!” Trump tweeted.
Never seen the Republican Party so unified. No “Cave” on the issue of Border and National Security. A beautiful thing to see, especially when you hear the new rhetoric spewing from the mouths of the Democrats who talk Open Border, High Taxes and Crime. Stop Criminals & Drugs now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2019
The political stakes are high as the shutdown moves into a fifth week.