UNITED STATES: DONALD TRUMP PROPOSES A STEEL WALL TO END THE SHUTDOWN

U.S. President Donald Trump is adamant and remains more determined than ever to see through his campaign promise to build a wall along the Mexican border. However, this decision is far from unanimous in the US Congress. Pending an agreement, the United States is experiencing a veritable shutdown.

“SHUT-DOWN: USA AT A STANDSTILL

The situation in the United States has been particularly tense in recent weeks. Indeed, Democrats and Republicans are unable to agree on the US budget for 2019. The focal point of these discussions is the construction of the wall on the border with Mexico, wanted by Donald Trump. Firmly opposed to the construction of this wall, the Democrats consider this project to be “immoral”, extremely costly and “ineffective”.

The consequences of the failure to reach agreement on the budget bill are beginning to be felt in Uncle Sam’s country. The country is facing a partial paralysis of American society, with some public services unable to function, such as some museums and garbage collection in national parks. As a result, some 800,000 civil servants are no longer able to work, and are awaiting an outcome to the budget negotiations so that they can resume their activities as quickly as possible.

A PRESIDENT WHO STICKS TO HIS GUNS

Donald Trump definitely doesn’t seem ready to change his mind: “We have to build this wall, the security of our country is the priority, it’s our identity that’s at stake” said the billionaire during a meeting with journalists at the White House. The two political parties are struggling to find common ground, and each is passing the buck to point the finger of blame.

Aside from the morality of the project, the main problem is the financial aspect. Indeed, the president is asking for an astronomical 5 billion euros to build the wall, in order to combat illegal immigration. Although it has a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, the Republican Party cannot approve the project without the agreement of certain Democrats. Budget bills must receive at least 60% of the votes cast before they can be passed.

A STEEL WALL ON THE MEXICAN BORDER?

To advance the debate with his political opponents, President Trump said he was ready to make a “concession” by proposing to build a steel wall instead of concrete, as was initially discussed. He praises this new option as a “good solution”, “more solid” and “less obstructive”, adding that it will be manufactured entirely in the USA. The President of the United States had already mooted this solution a few years ago, calling for “a wall with artistically designed steel bars” to allow people to see through.

Although claiming to remain “open to debate” and determined to “find a compromise”, the Democratic Party does not yet seem ready to change its mind. U.S. Senator Susan Collins described the debate over Trump’s new proposal as “strange”. Especially since the federal government has already built concrete prototypes near the San Diego border, at a cost of several million dollars.

Current events are reminiscent of the “shutdown” that took place between 1995 and 1996, under the Clinton administration, and which brought the country to a standstill for 21 days. What happens if the situation doesn’t improve? Donald Trump has already threatened to officially declare a state of emergency, which would allow him to approve the project without the approval of the US Congress.