Addressing the nation tonight about the crisis on the U.S.-Mexican border, 72-year-old President Donald Trump takes his case to the American people with a nationwide address. Shutting down the government Dec. 22, 2018 over Democrats refusal to give him any funds for border security, Trump finds himself unable to engage House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in meaningful negotiation. Trump asked for $5.6 billion in border security funds to build out his border wall, something Pelosi and Schumer refused to do. When they met with Trump in the Oval Office Dec. 11, 2018 they smirked with glee telling Trump there’s no money to fund his border project. On Dec. 22, 2018, Trump decided not to sign the continuing budget resolution to keep the government running until Feb. 8, creating the partial government shutdown.
Pelosi and Schumer have insisted that there can be no discussion of border security until Trump signs the continuing budget resolution to reopen the partial government shutdown. With much of the media blaming Trump for the shutdown, it’s no surprise that today’s Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 51% of respondents blamed Trump for the shutdown, as opposed to 32% for Democrats. Yet the net result of the shutdown is that 800,000 federal workers are either furloughed or not receiving their paychecks. Any federal mediator would split the difference, giving Trump roughly $2.3 billion for border security, reopening the government. For whatever reason, Pelosi and Schumer have said they will not negotiate with Trump until he signs the continuing budget resolution. Judging by Pelosi and Schumer’s refusal to negotiate with Trump, it’s clear that they do not consider him a legitimate president.
Republicans have noted that former President Barack Obama asked Congress for some $25 billion to build out border fencing, citing a national crisis. Yet when it comes to Democrats allocating Trump a few billion dollars, neither Pelosi nor Schumer want to negotiate in good faith. When you consider the refusal on their parts to negotiate, it speaks volumes about their refusal to recognize the Trump presidency. Since former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton lost to Trump Nov. 6, 2016, the Democrat Party has done everything possible to de-legitimize the Trump presidency. Democrats followed up with Hillary’s campaign strategy accusing Trump of illegally colluding with Russia to win the election, citing Hillary’s paid opposition research AKA “the dossier,” as proof of Trump criminality. When Deputy Atty. Gen Rod Rosenstein appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller May 17, 2017, Trump lost his legitimacy.
Democrats want no part of Trump believing, sometime soon, that Mueller will issue his final report, proving grounds for Trump’s impeachment, possible removal from office. Negotiating with Trump would demonstrate Pelosi and Schumer consider Trump the nation’s legitimate president, which they do not. Let there be no mistake, Pelosi and Schumer’s refusal to negotiate with Trump directly relates to not recognizing him as president. Hoping Mueller gives them the reason to impeach-and-remove Trump from office, Democrats have no reason to negotiate on border security. When Trump takes his case to the nation tonight, he won’t find many receptive viewers, with most independents and Democrats already blaming him for the shutdown. Trump’s reaction to Pelosi and Schumer Dec. 11, 2018 in the Oval Office mirrors their total repudiation of his presidency, whether he lives in the White House or not.
Trump’s main argument to continue building out the Southern border barrier stems from the Department of Homeland Security identifying thousands of criminals and potential terrorists making it across the border. At a press conference Jan. 4 in the Rose Garden, Trump told ABC News reporter Terry Moran that he thought he had emergency powers needed to order the military to pay and complete the border security barrier. While it’s doubtful Trump will declare a national emergency tonight, his sales job tonight isn’t likely to change too many minds. Trump, Pelosi and Schumer find themselves boxed into a corner, all believing they can outlast each other on the government shutdown, while federal workers suffer. Nothing in tonight’s speech will convince Pelosi and Schumenr to cough up a few billion dollars to end the shutdown, leaving federal workers in limbo.
Tonight’s national address isn’t likely to change any minds about the pressing need for border funding. Pelsoi and Schumer are expected to speak afterward, blaming Trump for the government shutdown, saying that the government must reopen first before in any discussions about more cash for border security. Trump finds himself with limited options, other that declaring a national emergency on the borde, granting himself the funds needed to build out the border barrier. Faced with no doubt court battles over the definition of a “national emergency,” Trump’s on shaky legal ground. As long as Pelosi and Schumer de-legitimize the Trump presidency, there’s no reason to negotiate with Trump. Expecting to get the ammunition from Mueller they need to impeach and remove Trump from office, Pelosi and Schumer have no reason to deal with Trump on anything, certainly not his demands for border security.
