President Trump said he will make a “major announcement” about the southern border and the partial government shutdown on Saturday. It is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. ET.
A senior administration official told CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett that Mr. Trump will present what the White House believes could be a deal to end the shutdown. The deal was largely influenced by talks between Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner.
CBS News can confirm that the offer is expected to include the $5.7 billion demand for the wall in exchange for the BRIDGE Act – extending protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – and legislation to extend the legal status of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders.
However, Democrats seem unlikely to take the deal. A senior House Democratic aide told CBS News that Democrats do not truly consider this a compromise, as Mr. Trump still wants full funding for the wall. They also believe that the BRIDGE Act does not offer full protection to Dreamers and is a temporary fix. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin said in a statement that he would not support the rumored deal.
“First, President Trump and Senate Majority Leader McConnell must open the government today. Second, I cannot support the proposed offer as reported and do not believe it can pass the Senate. Third, I am ready to sit down at any time after the government is opened and work to resolve all outstanding issues,” Durbin said.
Mr. Trump announced the speech on Twitter.
“I will be making a major announcement concerning the Humanitarian Crisis on our Southern Border, and the Shutdown,” Mr. Trump tweeted Friday evening. He had originally said it would be at 3 p.m. but his schedule later noted it would take place an hour later.
Saturday marks the 29th day of the longest government shutdown in history. Mr. Trump and congressional Democrats are currently deadlocked over funding for a border wall. Mr. Trump refuses to sign any government funding bill that does not include money for a wall, and Democrats are refusing to negotiate while the government is shut down. Around 800,000 federal workers have been furloughed or working without pay since the shutdown began.
How to watch President Trump’s announcement
- What: “Major announcement” about the shutdown and the southern border
- Who: President Donald Trump
- Time: 4:00 p.m. ET (changed from 3 p.m.)
- Live stream: Watch on CBSN or in player above
In recent weeks, Mr. Trump has considered declaring a national emergency, which would enable him to build the wall without congressional approval. Mr. Trump said earlier this month that “I can do it if I want.” So far, he has not. “I think we might work a deal,” he has said. But Mr. Trump went on to threaten, “And if we don’t, I may go that route. I have the absolute right to do national emergency if I want.”
Mr. Trump’s announcement will coincide with women’s marches across the country that both protest Trump administration policies and try to draw attention to other policy priorities for women.
Arden Farhi, Major Garrett, Rebecca Kaplan and Ed O’Keefe contributed reporting
