In 13-minutes of raw live TV broadcast to the world direct from the Oval Office President Donald Trump put the southern border wall controversy on the offense pushing Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer up against the ropes. Yes sir ree — it was quite a sight to see – the Donald, Nancy and Chucky show. The fallout is gaining speed.

At stake is a potential partial United States federal government shutdown during the Christmas season and perhaps into the New Year if President Trump does not get $5-billion for 2019 to continue work building the border wall from Tijuana, Mexico to Brownsville, Texas.

During the former Obama administration leading Democrats are on record for stronger border security and for building a “barrier” between the Mexico and United States border, but now under President Trump — Pelosi calls Trump’s border wall “immoral.” It makes one’s head spin around like that weird girl in the movie “The Exorcist.”

One thing President Trump demonstrated — by turning on the TV cameras in the Oval Office with incoming Speaker of the House Pelosi and incoming U.S. Senate Minority Leader Schumer — is his sheer determination to build that border wall as he has promised to do ever since he first announced he would run for president.

During the heated exchange, President Trump took complete command of the conversation by saying he would be “proud” to take full responsibility for shutting down the government and accept the blame. Schumer and Pelosi were speechless by the time the TV cameras were turned off but they both had plenty to say to reporters waiting outside the White House as they left for the Capitol Building again calling the border wall “immoral” and a waste of money.

Among President Trump’s threats to Pelosi and Schumer is the potential to shut down all points-of-entry along the southern border between Mexico and the USA from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico costing billions in trade for both Mexicans and Americans. Plus Trump said if he didn’t get the $5-billion he would direct the U.S. Military to build the wall in the name of national defense.

Coming to President Trump’s defense, among others, is U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) who is advising the president to “stand your ground … dig in.” He also said Trump’s request is “imminently reasonable” and Democrats’ “arrogance toward Trump needs to come to an end.”

Meanwhile, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) said he personally does not favor a government shutdown and he thinks President Trump means business with this funding war with the Democrats.

“I don’t think the president is bluffing,” said Kennedy in a TV news interview. “It’s up to the Democrats to understand that illegal immigration is illegal.”

If there ever as an example of why the USA needs a border wall is the recent ongoing situation with thousands of illegal immigrants stranded in Tijuana, Mexico that arrived in caravans from Central American countries seeking unlawful asylum because most don’t qualify for asylum under current federal law. Because President Trump mobilized the U.S. Military along key points and ‘all-hands-on-deck’ with federal and local law enforcement agencies these thousands of illegals were denied entry legal or illegal into the USA.

News reports claim the numbers of illegals in Tijuana are dropping for a variety of reasons including finding employment in Mexico while others are returning to their home countries though relief efforts provided by the Mexican government and non-profit agencies. The situation in Tijuana is easing but those responsible for it should be hunted down, arrested and put on trial for felony human rights violations.

Vice President Mike Pence was also in the Oval Office on Tuesday with his boss, Pelosi and Schumer and a ton of TV press. Pence sat there stone faced and motionless having realized he was in the middle of one of those ‘Oh My God’ moments. After the TV may-lay Pence described the meeting as “memorable” and that’s all he said.

The end result of these classic made-for-TV Trump moments is they are being replayed over and over on mainsteam media across America and around the world — endlessly debated by TV talking heads. President Trump looks pretty good compared to petty Pelosi and chump Chucky.

About the Author Britt Nelson relocated to Costa Rica in 2011 from Florida, where he served as news editor for the Palatka Daily News, a newspaper owned by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group (NYT-RNG) for 20 years.

Nelson served the NYT-RNG for 18 years in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida as a correspondent, reporter, staff writer, senior staff writer training new reporters, copy editor, page designer, editorial writer, editorial page editor and editorial board member.