Trump breaks for the border, but skips Davos
‘Another one of my many wins’
DONALD Trump has visited the Mexico border, claiming his opponents just want to deny him ‘another one of many wins’. As he touched down in Texas, several hundred protesters opposed his wall plan, while, across the road, another group chanted: ‘Build that wall!’
The US president threatened to declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress if he can’t reach a deal with Democrats to fund the €5 billion project.
And he announced that he would not now visit the world economic forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 21, because of the government shutdown.
He said he is cancelling his trip because of the Democrat party’s ‘intransigence’. In a tweet, Mr Trump offered his ‘warmest regards and apologies’ to the economic forum. Earlier in the day, he told reporters he wanted to go, but he might not if the shutdown continues.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other cabinet members are still scheduled to attend the annual event, which attracts the world’s business and political elite.
His border trip came after his negotiations with the opposition blew up in spectacular style.
He met House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in a bid to end the impasse that has seen a partial shutdown of the government, with the president refusing to sign off budgets unless he gets the money for his wall.
The self-styled ‘master of the deal’ tweeted that the 14-minute meeting was a ‘total waste of time,’ adding: ‘I asked what is going to happen in 30 days if I quickly open things up, are you going to approve Border Security which includes a Wall or Steel Barrier? Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, nothing else works.’
Reports that he had slammed his hand down on the table in frustration, with Mr Schumer accusing the president of a ‘temper tantrum’, were denied by the White House last night.
The partial government shutdown dragged into its 20th day with hundreds of thousands of federal workers off the job or working without pay as the wall fight persisted. Today will be the first day hundreds of thousands of federal workers find they have nothing going into their bank accounts.
Asked about a national emergency declaration, Trump said, as he left Washington for Texas, ‘I’m not prepared to do that yet, but if I have to I will.’ He said it would allow him direct the military to begin wall construction.
‘So we’re either going to have a win, make a compromise, because I think a compromise is a win for everybody, or I will declare a national emergency,’ he said. He tweeted: ‘The Opposition Party & the Dems know we must have Strong Border Security, but don’t want to give “Trump” another one of many wins!’
He visited a border patrol station at the busiest part of the border for illegal crossings.