Trump threatens to shut govt unless Mexico wall funded

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he would “totally be willing” to shut down the federal government unless Congress authorised $5 billion to fund his long-promised border wall along the US southern border with Mexico, according to a Politico interview released on Wednesday.

Speaking to the news outlet at the White House on Tuesday, Trump also said the $5 billion request was just to build the physical barrier, and that additional funding would be needed for border security.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump in a separate interview with the Washington Post hinted that he could avoid a government shutdown and still build his wall by utilising the US military, which he had deployed to the Us-mexico border last month to install barbed wire and fencing.

US lawmakers must act to pass a spending bill by Dec.7 to fund some government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security that oversees the border and immigration.

Trump has previously threatened to shut down the US government over the border wall funding but has not followed through.

His comments to Politico and the Post came amid a White House meeting on Tuesday with House Republicans, who control the chamber until Democrats take over in January.

Trump’s fellow Republicans also control the Senate and will maintain their hold next year.

House Republicans approved $5 billion for Trump’s wall in a key committee, but a bipartisan bill in the Senate allocates just $1.6 billion for the border.