We're just a few hours away from President Donald Trump's first major Oval Office address to the American people.
For weeks, the White House and congressional Democrats have been in a stalemate as the federal government remains shutdown. The current funding bill doesn't include $5.7 billion for some kind of border barrier or wall. President Trump says the government will not reopen until that funding, or a similar amount, is approved.
During the shutdown, President Trump cancelled a planned trip to Florida for the holidays and has remained at the White House. On Christmas he left Washington D.C. and made a surprise visit to U.S. troops in Iraq. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi bailed to Hawaii for Christmas, but maintains she was in contact with Democrat members.
Here's where things stand tonight:
House Democrats have voted to reopen the government without any funding for a border barrier. The White House has moved from a concrete wall to a steel slatted barrier, similar to the one Democrats voted for in the Secure Fence Act of 2006. In addition to barrier funding, the White House has also put more funding for humanitarian aid, detention center beds and medical equipment on the table as part of a bigger deal. Additional funding in these areas has been repeatedly requested by Democrats. Staffers for Pelosi and Schumer were at the White House over the weekend, but the leaders themselves have been completely absent from direct negotiations with President Trump or members of the administration.
Vice President Mike Pence was on Capitol Hill Tuesday meeting with a number of Republican lawmakers. An effort is being made to hold the GOP coalition together on behalf of the president and border security.
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Tomorrow, President Trump will also make his way to Capitol Hill and attend a lunch meeting with a number of Republican Senators.
In the meantime, speculation continues to swirl about whether President Trump will declare a national emergency to end the shutdown and use the military to build the wall/barrier. According to the Wall Street Journal, his prepared remarks from the Oval Office do not include the declaration. This of course could change before, during or after the address.
Correction: A previous version of this post stated President Trump will host Senators for lunch at the White House. That is incorrect. He will have a lunch meeting on Capitol Hill.
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