Shutdown could last ‘years’
Talks resume despite Trump claiming impasse may drag on
White House officials and congressional staffers will continue negotiations over the government shutdown, even after President Donald Trump declared he could keep it going for “months or even years”.
Trump met on Friday with congressional leaders from both parties as the shutdown hit the two-week mark amid an impasse over his demand for billions of dollars for a border wall with Mexico.
Democrats emerged from the meeting, which both sides said was contentious at times, to report little if any progress.
Trump designated Vice-President Mike Pence, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and adviser Jared Kushner to work with a congressional delegation at a meeting yesterday.
Trump is framing the upcoming weekend talks as progress, while Democrats are emphasising families unable to pay bills.
The standoff has prompted economic jitters and anxiety among some in Trump’s own party.
But he appeared on Friday in the Rose Garden to frame the weekend talks as progress, while making clear he would not reopen the government.
“We won’t be opening until it’s solved,” Trump said.
“I don’t call it a shutdown. I call it doing what you have to do for the benefit and the safety of our country.”
Trump said he could declare a national emergency to build the wall without congressional approval, but would first try a “negotiated process.”
Trump previously described the situation at the border as a “national emergency” before he dispatched active-duty troops in what critics described as a pre-election stunt.
Trump also said the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are furloughed or working without pay would want him to “keep going” and fight for border security.
Asked how people would manage without a financial safety net, he declared, “The safety net is going to be having a strong border because we’re going to be safe.”
Democrats called on Trump to reopen the government while negotiations continue.
People familiar with the session but not authorised to speak publicly described Trump as holding forth at length on a range of subjects but said he made clear he was firm in his demand for the wall funding and in rejecting the Democrats’ request to reopen the government.
Trump confirmed that he privately told Democrats the shutdown could drag on for months or years, though he said he hoped it wouldn’t last that long.
Said Trump, “I hope it doesn’t go on even beyond a few more days.” — AP
I don’t call it a shutdown. I call it doing what you have to do for the benefit and the safety of our country.
Donald Trump