Prior to his national address on Tuesday night President Trump tweeted five times. He lamented about “endless wars,” asked what he would be able to do with “ZERO” interest rates like the past administration, quoted Mark Glyptis of United Steelworkers, explained that talks with China were going well, and congratulated the college football team the Clemson Tigers for their win over Alabama on Monday night.
After his national address on Tuesday, President Trump tweeted twice. The first was his full address, which the News Blender carried live. The second, was to thank people for “soooo many nice comments,” regarding the speech that took place inside the Oval Office, he added that it was “a very interesting experience.”
On Wednesday President Trump tweeted (so far) four times.
1. But we MUST fix our Southern Border!
Wednesday marks the 18th day the government has been partially shutdown as leadership in both parties fail to reach a compromise that would re-open the government.
Before President Trump traveled to the Hill to meet with Senate Republicans he hosted the media in the Oval Office as he signed the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 1862), during the signing, President Trump fielded questions from the gathered press.
Highlights from the Bill Signing:
Asked what he would say to the federal employees going without pay during the shutdown President Trump states, “I think they have been terrific. They’re terrific patriots,” he added, “A lot of them agree with what I am doing.”
REPORTER: Mr president, what do you say to federal workers who are now working w/o pay?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 9, 2019
TRUMP: "I think they have been terrific. They're terrific patriots. A lot of them agree w/what I'm doing… the people out there want something to happen at our southern border." pic.twitter.com/TCtK2D344l
President Trump is pressed on the issue of federal government employees going without pay and explains that “the beautiful thing about social media is the world can write to you. And you take a look at social media so many of those people are saying, “it’s hard for me, it’s hard for my family, but Mr. President, you’re doing the right thing.”
REPORTER: But these people are going w/o paychecks. They can't wait for a comprehensive immigration bill.
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 9, 2019
TRUMP: "If you take a look at social media, so many of those people are
saying 'it's very hard for me & my family, but POTUS, you're doing the right thing. Get it done.'" pic.twitter.com/RhuQivsdHN
ABC News’ Jon Karl asks the President why not sign some of the other bills that would reinstate funding for certain government agencies, President Trump responds by saying, “Think I should do that?” President Trump continues, “I watch your one-sided reporting, seriously Jon, do you think I should do it?” The president and Jon Karl continued until President Trump explains, “because if you would do that, you should never be in this position, because you’d never get anything done.”
Trump belittles @jonkarl, tells him, "I watch your one-sided reporting…seriously, Jon, do you think I should just sign [funding bills w/o the wall]?…because if you would do that, you should never be in this position. Because you'd never get anything done." #civility pic.twitter.com/5wJwwzjCgx
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 9, 2019
President Trump explains we need a border wall because migrants have “stronger, bigger, faster vehicles than our police have…”
President Trump spoke to the press once again after his lunch meeting with Senate Republicans.
Highlights from the Hill:
“Republicans want border security.”
Trump in part: Mitch has been fantastic…There was no reason for me to be there, I know that before…
After meeting w/GOP senators, Trump describes the Republican Party as "very, very unified" and says "Republicans want border security, they want national security, they want to have a steel barrier or a wall of concrete, they don't care. But I'll use any term they want." pic.twitter.com/FCsN9hvUhZ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 9, 2019
Asked about reporters that some Senate Republican support is waning for the shutdown to continue, President Trump calls it fake news…
Asked if any Republicans are urging him to end the shutdown, Trump says "they're with us all the way," then abruptly pivots to attacking the media.
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 9, 2019
"The fake news is the fake news," he says. pic.twitter.com/miHJLKO0M0
Asked about the CBP numbers that show illegal immigration is down by almost 81 percent since 2000, President Trump says, “you know why it’s gone down because of good management, me and my people,” he adds, that nobody heard of caravans before…”
REPORTER: "Illegal immigration at the border has gone dow–"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 9, 2019
TRUMP: "You know why it's gone down? Because of good management. Because of me and my people… we can never do a great job, unless we have a wall or a barrier." pic.twitter.com/RftfQvE4Vp
For What it’s Worth:
The Washington Post reported that Virginia farmer John Boyd traveled to the U.S. Department of Agriculture field office in North Carolina, where he was met with lights on and an empty building, a note on the door read, “The office was closed due to a lapse in federal government funding.”
According to the article U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has extended the January 15th deadline for farmers affected by the tariffs to apply of part of the $12 billion in aid the government had approved in September.
2. I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives & money!
The Washington Post reached out to FEMA to clarify President Trump’s tweet, as it’s unclear if he has ordered or is going to order the stopping of funds to California residents that suffered from wildfires.
According to the Post, a email sent to FEMA generated a automatic reply that read, “Due to the federal funding hiatus, we are not able to respond to general press queries.”
California State lawmakers quickly fired back against the President’s tweeted threat.
Senator Kamala Harris
Newly sworn in California Governor Gavin Newsom
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D)
This is not the first time President Trump has threatened to cut off federal funding to California.
3. Thank you to all of America’s brave police, deputies, sheriffs, and federal law enforcement on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day!
4. Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, nothing else works!
President Trump met with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) after his meeting with Senate Republicans. They confirm President Trump tweet that the meeting was unsuccessful.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer: President Trump immediately got up and walked out of their meeting when Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats wouldn't agree to fund a border wall. "We saw a temper tantrum” pic.twitter.com/opMQi7Qpu1
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 9, 2019
