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Trump vows to 'close government' to build Mexico wall Trump says he is willing to 'close government' to build Mexico wall
(about 1 hour later)
Donald Trump has vowed to close down the US government if necessary to build his wall along the Mexico border. Donald Trump says he will close down the US government if necessary to build his wall along the Mexico border.
The president told supporters at a "Make America Great Again" rally in Phoenix, Arizona, that the opposition Democrats were being "obstructionist".The president told supporters at a "Make America Great Again" rally in Phoenix, Arizona, that the opposition Democrats were being "obstructionist".
During the 80-minute speech, he also took aim at the media, blaming them for giving far right groups "a platform".During the 80-minute speech, he also took aim at the media, blaming them for giving far right groups "a platform".
But he selectively quoted his initial response to violence at a far-right rally that left one woman dead.But he selectively quoted his initial response to violence at a far-right rally that left one woman dead.
He omitted the controversial claim that "many sides" had to shoulder the blame for violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. He omitted the much-criticised claim that "many sides" had to shoulder the blame for violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The wall What did he say about the wall?
On the subject of immigration, Mr Trump blamed the Democrats, who he said were "putting all of America's safety at risk" by opposing the wall he wants to build along the US's southern border with Mexico. President Trump wants Congress to finance his controversial plan to build a "big, beautiful" wall along the United States' border with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants.
He said immigration officers who worked in the area said it was "vital" to stem the flow of illegal immigrants. But Republicans will need the support of Democrats to secure funding for the wall in a government spending bill, which they are unlikely to get.
Mr Trump concluded: "If we have to close down government, we are building that wall." In his speech, Mr Trump said the Democrats were "putting all of America's safety at risk" by opposing the wall. He said immigration officers who worked in the area said it was "vital" to stem the flow of illegal immigrants.
From Nafta to North Korea He said that, if it came to it, he would risk a government shutdown - which is what happens when legislation funding the federal government cannot be passed by Congress and non-essential services stop.
In his wide-ranging speech, Mr Trump also said he thought he would "probably end up terminating Nafta", the trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada that he has lambasted many times. "If we have to close down our government, we are building that wall," Mr Trump said, adding that "the American people voted for immigration control".
The three countries have begun talks on revising the agreement, and negotiators are due to meet again on 1 September. What did he say about Charlottesville?
On North Korea, the president sounded a hopeful note about the possibility of a reduction in tensions over Pyongyang's missile tests and nuclear programme. President Trump attacked the media in the campaign-style speech, saying reporters had misrepresented his "perfect" words in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, where Heather Heyer was killed after a car ploughed into a crowd of people protesting against far-right demonstrators including neo-Nazis.
Referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Mr Trump said: "I respect the fact that he is starting to respect us."
"And maybe - probably not, but maybe - something positive can come about," he added.
But while his comments were met with cheers inside the conference centre, anti-Trump protesters who had gathered outside the rally clashed with police after the rally had finished.
Police deployed tear gas after the protesters threw bottles and rocks.
Bashing the media
President Trump began and finished his speech by urging the American people to come together.
But he quickly turned on familiar foes, beginning with the media. He said reporters had misrepresented his "perfect" words in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, where Heather Heyer was killed after a car ploughed into a crowd of people protesting against far-right demonstrators including neo-Nazis.
He accused "truly dishonest people in the media and the fake media" of "trying to take away our history and heritage" because, he said, they "don't like our country".He accused "truly dishonest people in the media and the fake media" of "trying to take away our history and heritage" because, he said, they "don't like our country".
He quoted his own initial public response to what happened in Charlottesville. He quoted his first public response to the violence on 12 August, which was criticised by both Republicans and Democrats for not explicitly condemning the far-right.
"This is what I said on Saturday: 'We're closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia,' - this is me speaking. 'We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence.' That's me speaking on Saturday, right after the event," he said."This is what I said on Saturday: 'We're closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia,' - this is me speaking. 'We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence.' That's me speaking on Saturday, right after the event," he said.
But what he actually said on 12 August was: "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides." But his full quote was: "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides."
Presidential pardon? What other topics came up?
Mr Trump also used the rally to hint he would pardon controversial former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, a man who rose to national prominence because of his tough stance against illegal immigration. What has the reaction been?
He told the crowd Mr Arpaio - who was found guilty of criminal contempt in July - "is going to be just fine", but he would not formally pardon him at the moment because "I don't want to cause any controversy". While Mr Trump's comments were met with cheers inside the conference centre, anti-Trump protesters who had gathered outside the rally clashed with police after the rally had finished.
His comments directly contradicted those of White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said on Tuesday "there will be no discussion of that today". Police used pepper spray after the protesters threw bottles and rocks.
Mr Arpaio, 85, was found to have violated a judge's 2001 order that he cease detaining migrants who are not suspected of having committed a state crime. Reacting to the speech, the former National Intelligence director James Clapper told CNN that he was questioning Donald Trump's "fitness" for office.
"I also am beginning to wonder about his motivation for it," he said, adding he found the rally "downright scary and disturbing".
Ruben Gallego, a Democratic Party congressman in Arizona, said it was was the worst-ever speech by a US president. "It was all about him, it was not about the country," he told the BBC.
But Trump supporters were pleased.
"President Trump did an amazing job tonight. His message is uniting our great nation!", tweeted Ryan Fournier, the head of Students for Trump.
White Nationalist Richard Spencer tweeted: "Trump has never denounced the Alt-Right. Nor will he."
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