Trump speech: President accused of 'stoking fear' over border immigration as he demands wall funding to end 'crisis'

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has been speaking to Fox News' Sean Hannity about the speech.

He says that it is the "most presidential" he has seen Mr Trump.

The president was indeed more calm in talking about this issue tonight than he has been previously - although his delivery from the Oval Office was more stilted than his rallies.

 Ronna McDaniel, the Chair of the Republican National Committee has praised Mr Trump in statement:

“Tonight, Americans saw their president fighting for a solution to fund our government while protecting American citizens, versus the approach of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer which is to resist, resist, resist at all costs,” said Chairwoman McDaniel. “It wasn’t always this way. President Trump is simply asking Democrats to support border security policies they all supported just a few short years ago. It’s time for Democrats to put down their swords and work with President Trump.”

Senator Bernie Sanders, who may take another run at the presidency in 2020, his had his say on the president's address. He says "we don't need to create artificial crises".

President Trump claimed "more Americans will die from drugs this year than were killed in the entire Vietnam War."

Some 58,220 Americans died as a result of the Vietnam War. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the number of total drug overdose deaths was 70,327.

However, Mr Trump’s figures do not distinguish between deaths caused by drugs smuggled into the country versus those prescribed by US doctors. 

The Trump 2020 campaign is already using the address to raise funds:

More of Mr Trump's lack of accuracy over the statistics on families at the border:

“Last month, 20,000 migrant children were illegally brought into the United States, a dramatic increase. These children are used as human pawns by vicious coyotes and ruthless gangs.”

Mr Trump did not accurately describe what Customs and Border Protection (CBP) tracks.

CBP reports just over 20,000 family units — not minors — were apprehended at the southern border in both November and December 2018, A family unit is defined by CBP as a minor apprehended with at least one family member.

More from Mr Schumer's address:

“Most presidents have used Oval Office addresses for noble purposes. This president just used the backdrop of the Oval Office to manufacture a crisis, stoke fear, and divert attention from the turmoil in his Administration," he said.

"Throughout this debate and his presidency — President Trump has appealed to fear, not facts. Division, not unity."

Here is Mr Trump's address in full:

"My fellow Americans: Tonight, I am speaking to you because there is a growing humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border. 

Every day, Customs and Border Patrol agents encounter thousands of illegal immigrants trying to enter our country. We are out of space to hold them, and we have no way to promptly return them back home to their country. 

America proudly welcomes millions of lawful immigrants who enrich our society and contribute to our nation. But all Americans are hurt by uncontrolled, illegal migration. It strains public resources and drives down jobs and wages. Among those hardest hit are African Americans and Hispanic Americans. 

Our southern border is a pipeline for vast quantities of illegal drugs, including meth, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. Every week, 300 of our citizens are killed by heroin alone, 90 percent of which floods across from our southern border. More Americans will die from drugs this year than were killed in the entire Vietnam War. 

In the last two years, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records, including those charged or convicted of 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000 violent killings. Over the years, thousands of Americans have been brutally killed by those who illegally entered our country, and thousands more lives will be lost if we don't act right now. 

This is a humanitarian crisis — a crisis of the heart and a crisis of the soul. 

Last month, 20,000 migrant children were illegally brought into the United States — a dramatic increase. These children are used as human pawns by vicious coyotes and ruthless gangs. One in three women are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico. Women and children are the biggest victims, by far, of our broken system. 

This is the tragic reality of illegal immigration on our southern border. This is the cycle of human suffering that I am determined to end. 

My administration has presented Congress with a detailed proposal to secure the border and stop the criminal gangs, drug smugglers, and human traffickers. It's a tremendous problem. Our proposal was developed by law enforcement professionals and border agents at the Department of Homeland Security. These are the resources they have requested to properly perform their mission and keep America safe. In fact, safer than ever before. 

The proposal from Homeland Security includes cutting-edge technology for detecting drugs, weapons, illegal contraband, and many other things. We have requested more agents, immigration judges, and bed space to process the sharp rise in unlawful migration fueled by our very strong economy. Our plan also contains an urgent request for humanitarian assistance and medical support. 

Furthermore, we have asked Congress to close border security loopholes so that illegal immigrant children can be safely and humanely returned back home. 

Finally, as part of an overall approach to border security, law enforcement professionals have requested $5.7 billion for a physical barrier. At the request of Democrats, it will be a steel barrier rather than a concrete wall. This barrier is absolutely critical to border security. It's also what our professionals at the border want and need. This is just common sense. 

The border wall would very quickly pay for itself. The cost of illegal drugs exceeds $500 billion a year — vastly more than the $5.7 billion we have requested from Congress. The wall will also be paid for, indirectly, by the great new trade deal we have made with Mexico. 

Sen. Chuck Schumer — who you will be hearing from later tonight — has repeatedly supported a physical barrier in the past, along with many other Democrats. They changed their mind only after I was elected President. 

Democrats in Congress have refused to acknowledge the crisis. And they have refused to provide our brave border agents with the tools they desperately need to protect our families and our nation. 

The federal government remains shut down for one reason and one reason only: because Democrats will not fund border security. 

My administration is doing everything in our power to help those impacted by the situation. But the only solution is for Democrats to pass a spending bill that defends our borders and re-opens the government. 

This situation could be solved in a 45-minute meeting. I have invited Congressional leadership to the White House tomorrow to get this done. Hopefully, we can rise above partisan politics in order to support national security. 

Some have suggested a barrier is immoral. Then why do wealthy politicians build walls, fences, and gates around their homes? They don't build walls because they hate the people on the outside, but because they love the people on the inside. The only thing that is immoral is the politicians to do nothing and continue to allow more innocent people to be so horribly victimized. 

America's heart broke the day after Christmas when a young police officer in California was savagely murdered in cold blood by an illegal alien, who just came across the border. The life of an American hero was stolen by someone who had no right to be in our country. 

Day after day, precious lives are cut short by those who have violated our borders. In California, an Air Force veteran was raped, murdered, and beaten to death with a hammer by an illegal alien with a long criminal history. In Georgia, an illegal alien was recently charged with murder for killing, beheading, and dismembering his neighbor. In Maryland, MS-13 gang members who arrived in the United States as unaccompanied minors were arrested and charged last year after viciously stabbing and beating a 16-year-old girl. 

Over the last several years, I've met with dozens of families whose loved ones were stolen by illegal immigration. I've held the hands of the weeping mothers and embraced the grief-stricken fathers. So sad. So terrible. I will never forget the pain in their eyes, the tremble in their voices, and the sadness gripping their souls. 

How much more American blood must we shed before Congress does its job? 

To those who refuse to compromise in the name of border security, I would ask: Imagine if it was your child, your husband, or your wife whose life was so cruelly shattered and totally broken? 

To every member of Congress: Pass a bill that ends this crisis. 

To every citizen: Call Congress and tell them to finally, after all of these decades, secure our border. 

This is a choice between right and wrong, justice and injustice. This is about whether we fulfill our sacred duty to the American citizens we serve. 

When I took the oath of office, I swore to protect our country. And that is what I will always do, so help me God. 

Thank you and goodnight."

Now Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Tom Perez has released a statement on the president's speech.

“Lies, fearmongering, finger-pointing, and a manufactured excuse for shutting down the government. Using the Oval Office to deceive the American people and spout offensive, anti-immigrant rhetoric proves, once again, that Donald Trump is unfit to serve as president.

“800,000 workers are furloughed without pay. The American people are demanding an end to the Trump Shutdown. Democrats have already voted to end the Trump Shutdown, and we’re ready to pass legislation to fund common-sense, effective border security. It’s time for Republicans in Congress to wake up, stop marching in lockstep behind Trump, and do their jobs – the president is clearly incapable of doing his.”

Senior White House officials are already briefing to back up Mr Trump's speech - claiming Democrats will not come around on border security.