President Trump vowed to keep one of his signature campaign promises to the American people on Tuesday, threatening a total government shutdown if “obstructionist democrats” refuse to budge on funding the border wall between the US and Mexico, reports CNBC.
The President raised eyebrows when he mentioned the possibility of shutting down the federal government if legislators refused to finance a physical barrier on the southern border, saying, “If we have to close down our government, we’re building that wall.”
“Build that wall. Now the obstructionist Democrats would like us not to do it. But believe me, if we have to close down our government, we’re building that wall,” said the President during a rally in Arizona. “Let me be very clear to Democrats in Congress who oppose a border wall and stand in the way of border security: You are putting all of America’s safety at risk. You’re doing that.”
If congressional lawmakers do not reach a budget deal by the September 30th deadline, the federal government will cease to operate. In another scenario, President Trump could simply refuse to sign –or veto- any budget that arrives on his desk should it not include funding for the wall.
The Trump White House has agreed in the past to sign short-term budget fixes that fund the federal government for a limited amount of time, but have signaled it would no longer sign any bill that does not include money for the physical barrier.