President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the Democratic Party has been taken over by a group of young, "crazy" people.
"The Democrats don't care about crime. They've been taken over by a group of young people who, frankly, in some cases, I've been watching, I actually think they're crazy," Trump told reporters before he left on Marine One. "But they've been taken over by a group that's so far left, I really don't think they care about crime. And you know, sadly, they are viewing this as the beginning of the 2020 presidential race. And that's okay with me. They have been taken over by a group of people that don't care about gangs. They don't care about human trafficking and drugs. They don't care about anything. I'll tell you what, they have gone crazy."
The government is on the 20th day of the partial shutdown as Congress and Trump remain at a standoff over funding for a border wall. Trump gave an Oval Office address Tuesday night arguing that there is a crisis along the southern border and that a physical barrier is necessary in order to secure it. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and other Democrats have expressed opposition to any funding for a wall.
"The buck stops with everybody. They can solve this problem in literally 15 minutes," Trump said. "They can stop this problem in 15 minutes if they wanted to. I really believe now that they don't want to. I really believe that. I really believe they don't care about crime. I really believe this."
Trump is scheduled to visit the border in McAllen, Texas on Thursday. He has indicated he might declare a state of emergency in order to fund the wall without congressional approval. If Trump was to do so, the declaration would most likely be challenged in court.
"We have to get a win or I'll have to go national security. One or the other," Trump said. "Either we're going to win – either we're going to win or make a compromise. I'm okay to making a compromise. Compromise is in my vocabulary very strongly. We'll either going have a win, make a compromise – because I think a compromise is a win for everybody – or I will declare a national emergency."
Trump also mentioned that another caravan of migrants if forming in Honduras and said a wall is the only way to stop it "in its tracks."
"There is another major caravan forming right now in Honduras. and so far, we're trying to break it up. But so far, it's bigger than anything we've seen. And a drone isn't going to stop it. And a sensor isn't going to stop it. But you know what's going to stop it in its tracks? A nice powerful wall," Trump said.