Aggravated at the lack of action in Congress on his calls for $5 billion in money for his border wall, President Donald Trump on Thursday raised the chances of a possible partial government shutdown on Friday night, as he told House GOP leaders that he would not accept a short term funding bill for the government unless money for his border wall is included.
US Congress faces shutdown chances as Trump demands money for border wall
STEPANAKERT, MARCH 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: "The President informed us that he will not sign the bill that came over from the Senate last evening, because of his legitimate concerns for border security," House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters at the White House, Ajc.com reports.
It wasn't immediately clear what Ryan would be able to put together to get a majority in the House, as Republicans have been short on votes for border wall money in both the House and Senate.
"What we're going to do is go back to the House and work with our members," Ryan said outside the West Wing. "We want to keep the government open."
"We protect nations all over the world, but Democrats are unwilling to protect our nation," said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in a statement issued after the White House meeting with Ryan and other key Republicans. "We urgently need funding for border security and that includes a wall.”
The change of heart by the President came after efforts by more conservative Republicans in the House to demand that he veto any funding plan which did not address border security, as GOP lawmakers argue he should use his leverage - with the threat of a veto - to get the Congress to approve such funds.
