Donald Trump threatens US government shutdown could last ‘months or even years’, as talks with Democrats fail again
- Donald Trump says he might declare a national emergency to have his border wall built, if Democrats continue to refuse to provide US$5 billion in funding
US President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders failed to strike a deal in sometimes combative talks on Friday to end a partial shutdown of the US government.
After fighting to no avail over his request for US$5 billion to fund his signature wall on the Mexican border, Trump said he was prepared to keep the government shut for “months or even years”.
Administration officials, led by Vice-President Mike Pence, and congressional staffers are to meet during the weekend to try to end the impasse.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Democrats had told Trump during a meeting in the White House Situation Room to end the shutdown, which began two weeks ago. “He resisted,” Schumer said. “In fact, he said he’d keep the government closed for a very long period of time, months or even years.”
Trump confirmed that comment but painted a more positive picture of the meeting, the first since a new era of divided government began on Thursday when Democrats took control of the House of Representatives.
Democrat-controlled House passes US shutdown bills but impasse remains
“Absolutely, I said that. I don’t think it will but I am prepared,” Trump told reporters. “I hope it doesn’t go on even beyond a few more days. It really could open very quickly.
“We had a very, very productive meeting, and we’ve come a long way,” Trump said.