President Trump doubled-down on his fiery rhetoric surrounding his signature border wall Friday morning; telling Democrats they will likely face a “very long” shutdown should they refuse to fund his key campaign promise.
“The Democrats, whose votes we need in the Senate, will probably vote against Border Security and the Wall even though they know it is DESPERATELY NEEDED. If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don’t want Open Borders and Crime!” posted the president.
The Democrats, whose votes we need in the Senate, will probably vote against Border Security and the Wall even though they know it is DESPERATELY NEEDED. If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don’t want Open Borders and Crime!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi flat-out refused to fund the physical wall during her press briefing Thursday; saying the issue was a “non-starter” for congressional Democrats.
SHUTDOWN: Trump Says Build the Wall or Shut Down the Government
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.
SHUTDOWN DELAYED? McConnell Says US Needs ‘Government to Remain Open’
The US Senate plans to introduce a short-term spending bill to keep the federal government open for business Wednesday; delaying a full budget vote until February 8th as legislators struggle to reach an agreement surrounding border security.
“The bill would fund the government through Feb. 8, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced. The Senate will take up the measure later Wednesday, the Kentucky Republican said. Lawmakers need to pass spending bills by midnight Friday to avoid a partial shutdown,” writes CNBC.
“We need the government to remain open for the American people,” McConnell told his fellow lawmakers.
“A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request to comment on whether Trump would back a short-term spending bill. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president would want to see what Congress passes before he decides whether to sign it,” adds the article.
Read the full story at CNBC.