In Washington, political discord is reaching new heights.

President Donald Trump walked out of a White House meeting with Congressional leaders.

Disagreements over his proposed wall at the southern border have led to a standoff and a partial government shutdown that is now in its 19th day.

As CGTN’s Nathan King reports, Trump set the stage with his first speech to the nation from the Oval Office.

In a short address to the American people a lot of claims about the so-called crisis on the Mexican border.

“266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records, including those convicted of 100,000 assaults, 30 sex crimes, and 4,000 violent killings,” President Trump.

Immigration lawyer Liana Montecino, herself a refugee, said the U.S. President is wrong.

“Trump continues to send this message that the immigrants are coming to kill you but that is not true. As we know these are people fleeing persecution, these are minor children and these are people who just want to be able to live in a country and feel safe,” said Liana Montecino an immigration lawyer.

The U.S. president’s speech was designed to speak directly to the American people, on Thursday he will travel to the Southern border to press his case further that a wall is the way to address illegal immigration.

Polls show most Americans are against giving the President five-point-seven billion dollars he is asking for to begin construction and most blame him for the government shutdown. But the wall was a campaign promise and his supporters want him to deliver.

“I think the motivation that Trump is seeking is for his supporters to inflame their emotions against the immigrant community. Through false facts and create this crisis and fear amongst people and hatred but the truth is, in my case, I’m an immigrant I came here when I was 11 and I’ve dedicated my entire life to serve,” said Liana Montecino an immigration lawyer.

Trump’s address from the oval office, however, has raised the political stakes, Democrats in the U.S. Congress who control the cash gave their own televised rebuttal of his claims and the United States government shutdown, in its third week shows no signs of ending.

United States Presidents in the past have often used the Oval office address as a way of calming the fears of Americans during times of crisis, this time, Trumps critics say he used the address in a bid to install fear in people.