DON’S NOT AT WALL HAPPY
But doubts gov’t will shut
President Trump said Tuesday he was not “happy” or “thrilled” with the border-security deal hammered out by congressional negotiators — but added that he didn’t think there would be another government closure.
“I don’t think you’re going to see a shutdown. If you did have it, it’s the Democrats’ fault. I would hope that there won’t be a shutdown,” he told reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
Still, the president trashed the compromise hammered out by Democratic and Republican negotiators.
“I can’t say I’m happy. I can’t say I’m thrilled. It’s not doing the trick,” he said.
Asked whether he was still considering declaring a national emergency, he replied, “I’m considering everything.”
Trump has repeatedly said that he could find money elsewhere in the federal budget to pay for his border wall if Congress didn’t provide the funds he needed.
Late Tuesday, he suggested on Twitter that’s just what he plans to do.
“Was just presented the concept and parameters of the Border Security Deal by hard working Senator Richard Shelby. Looking over all aspects knowing that this will be hooked up with lots of money from other sources,” he tweeted.
“Will be getting almost $23 BILLION for Border Security. Regardless of Wall money, it is being built as we speak!”
Earlier, the president said he was “thrilled” that border-wall construction is continuing at a good clip.
I can’t say I’m happy. I can’t say I’m thrilled. It’s not doing the trick. — President Trump on Tuesday
“We’re building a lot of wall,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the spending agreement a “pretty good deal” for the president, even though funding falls significantly short of the $5.7 billion he wanted for the Southern border wall.
McConnell said he spoke with Trump Tuesday and recommended that he approve the congressional deal, averting another government shutdown on Friday.
Trump said he was “proud” of the recent 35-day partial government shutdown because it gave him the chance to highlight what he has called a “crisis” at the border with Mexico, a crisis Democrats say doesn’t exist.
“I accepted the first one and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, because people learned during that shutdown all about the problems coming in from the Southern border,” he said.
Negotiators reached a tentative deal Monday night to provide $1.375 billion to build 55 miles of new border barriers — well below the $5.7 billion Trump requested for more than 200 miles of wall.
The deal also would include language that the border barrier is limited to currently approved designs, while trimming the number of detention beds for illegal immigrants from 49,057 to 40,520 by the end of the fiscal year.
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), co-founder of the conservative Freedom Caucus, predicted the president would sign the spending bill, adding that conservatives don’t have leverage to “go to the mat” on another shutdown.
Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, one of the deal’s chief negotiators, predicted Trump would come aboard if the bill gets strong support in Congress.
“I would think if we pass it in the House and the Senate by a good margin, the president will sign it,” Shelby said. Others were less upbeat. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who traveled with the president to a rally in Cornyn’s home state Monday night, said, “My impression flying back with him from El Paso last night is that he thinks it’s pretty thin gruel.”