Trump says border wall is 'absolutely critical,' will pay for itself

In his first prime-time address from the Oval Office, President Trump on Tuesday night said a barrier must be built along the southern border in order to keep out drugs and criminals.

Border Patrol agents encounter "thousands" of migrants every day, he said, and "we're out of space to hold them and we have no way to promptly return them back home to their country." Trump proclaimed that "all Americans are hurt by uncontrolled illegal migration," as it "strains resources and drives down jobs and wages," but blacks and Hispanics are hit the hardest.

He also said the "absolutely critical" border wall will "very quickly pay for itself," because it would keep billions of dollars worth of illegal drugs out of the country, and added that it will "be paid for indirectly by a great new trade deal we have made with Mexico." He went on to blame Democrats for the government shutdown, and said they need to pass a bill that "defends our borders and reopens our government."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up