Trump rejects Democratic calls to end shutdown, says won't give up on wall
US President Donald Trump has once again turned down calls by Democrats to end a partial shutdown of the federal government over the funding of his controversial border wall.
The president invited top congressional leaders to the White House on Wednesday to discuss possible ways to end the shutdown as it dragged towards its third week.
During the meeting, Trump said he would not back down unless he is given the $5.6 billion he has requested for the 2,000-mile physical barrier, which is supposed to stop illegal immigration and drug trafficking through the southern border.
“Could be a long time, or it could be quickly,” Trump said of ending the shutdown. “It’s too important a subject to walk away from.”
He urged both parties in a tweet to work together and “pass a Funding Bill that protects this Nation and its people – this is the first and most important duty of government.”
Sadly, there can be no REAL Border Security without the Wall!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2019
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he implored Trump to re-open the government and stop using the shutdown as a “hostage.”
“We asked him to give us one good reason – I asked him directly,” Schumer said. “He could not give a good answer.”
“To use the shutdown as hostage – which they had no argument against – is wrong,” he added.
The meeting revolved around a new Democratic initiative to end the stalemate, which seeks to re-open the government through a package of bills that still exclude the wall.
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The package, which will come up for vote on Thursday, when the new Democratic-led House of Representatives reconvenes, keeps the current border security funding level of $1.3 billion.
The US Department of Homeland Security can use the money for fencing and barrier repairs plus $300 million for cameras and other related technologies.
The two-part package would also set aside nearly $265 billion to fund the other shuttered federal agencies until September 30, 2019-- the end of the current fiscal year.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell doubled down on the president’s views, warning that the shutdown could go on for “weeks” unless Democrats give Trump what he wants.
“We are hopeful that somehow in the coming days or weeks we will be able to reach an agreement,” he added.
The White House has blasted the new initiative as a “non-starter,” implying that it stands no chance to pass the Senate.
Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi, the presumptive incoming House speaker, blasted the Republicans for not accepting the $1.3 billion funding deal, something they agreed upon last year to avoid a shutdown.
During today’s meeting between @realDonaldTrump, myself & other Democratic leaders, we asked the President to open up the government – giving him a path Republicans have supported previously. Why would he not do it? #TrumpShutdown
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) January 3, 2019
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