Pelosi, Schumer Demand Equal Time to Argue Border Security

An escalating battle over border security is taking to the national air waves.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on Monday night demanded equal time to counter President Donald Trump's planned television address to the nation Tuesday.

In a statement tweeted by Bloomberg News’ Jennifer Epstein, the congressional Democratic leaders charged "now that the television networks have decided to air the president's address, which if his past statement are any indication, will be full of malice and misinformation, Democrats must immediately be given equal airtime."

Calling the partial government shutdown triggered by the stalemate over wall funding "the Trump Shutdown," Pelosi and Schumer argued reopening the government "while Congress debates the president's expensive and ineffective wall."

They added:

"On Day One of the new Congress, the House passed bipartisan legislation that honors our responsibility to protect the American people with funding for smart, effective border security solutions — just not the president's wasteful and ineffective wall."

• Trump to Head to Border as Shutdown Continues
• Ala. Dem Sen. Doug Jones: Shutdown Talks: 'All Political Posturing'