Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeJimmy Carter says his son smoked pot with Willie Nelson on White House roof O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' 2020 Democrats do convention Zoom call MORE (D-Texas) denounced President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE's prime-time speech on Tuesday night as an effort to "instill anxiety and paranoia" about the U.S.-Mexico border, which the potential 2020 presidential candidate called "one of the safest places" in the country.

O'Rourke, an El Paso, Texas, native who represented a congressional district near the border for three terms, posted a two-minute video late Tuesday that showed the southern border. He described the area as "peaceful" just hours after Trump delivered an Oval Office address aimed at building support for his proposed border wall.

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"By any measure the border is as safe as it’s ever been," O'Rourke said. "And the president using fear and anecdote to try to instill anxiety and paranoia to build the political will to construct this wall that would cost $30 billion and take private property and cause death and suffering … that was what we heard from the Oval Office."

"And we need to meet that fear with the truth, with our ambition, with the best traditions of this country," he added.

A shot of the U.S.-Mexico border pic.twitter.com/R35klcZ0Ov — Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) January 8, 2019

O'Rourke, who lost his Senate bid to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list 'Parks and Rec' cast members hosting special reunion to raise money for Wisconsin Democrats MORE (R-Texas) in November, is considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2020. He has not yet indicated whether he will run.

Trump, in his first prime-time address from the Oval Office, delivered many of his typical talking points on immigration and the need to construct a wall along the southern border. He warned of criminals and drugs coming over the border, and blamed Democrats for refusing to cooperate.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPowell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy Overnight Defense: House to vote on military justice bill spurred by Vanessa Guillén death | Biden courts veterans after Trump's military controversies Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerDemocrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise Pelosi, Schumer 'encouraged' by Trump call for bigger coronavirus relief package Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (D-N.Y.) responded by saying Trump's statements were misleading, and calling on him to reopen the government.

The president's desire for more than $5 billion in funding for the wall triggered a partial government shutdown that has entered its 19th day. Trump is scheduled to meet with congressional leaders on Wednesday, though no breakthrough appears imminent.