US - Mexico Wall controversy - Trump to deliver State of Union address

Post the longest shutdown of US government President Donald Trump is to deliver his second State of the Union address in the House chamber on Tuesday evening.

Having a theme of "choosing greatness.", the president is expected to focus on unity and the need to bridge the divide in the country during the speech.

Trump's speech before the joint session of Congress was initially scheduled to take place on Jan. 29. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) retracted his invitation, arguing it shouldn't take place until after the government reopened.

The speech was rescheduled for Tuesday after Trump agreed to sign a three-week continuing resolution (CR) to allow Congress additional time to hash out a plan on border security. Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is scheduled to deliver the Democratic response following the speech.

Congress has less than two weeks, until Feb 15, to get an agreement that prevents a second partial government shutdown that would impact roughly a quarter of the government. All eyes would be on what Trump says amidst the ongoing issues on the US-Mexico border.