In remarkable public exchange, Trump argues with Pelosi, Schumer about border wall funding.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump told Democratic leaders in a remarkable on-camera clash he would be “proud” to shut down the federal government if he doesn’t get the $5 billion he demands for a border wall with Mexico.

“If we don’t get what we want ... we will shut down the government,” Trump said during an exchange in the Oval Office with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, DN.Y.

Pelosi and Schumer told Trump he lacks support for border wall funding – even while Republicans still control the House – and is irresponsible in threatening to halt the government over a project that would be ineffective at best. “You don’t have the votes,” Pelosi said.

Trump wants $5 billion for a border wall as part of a government funding bill, contending the barrier would stop criminals and drug dealers from entering the country. Democrats said they’re not budging on the $1.6 billion in border security funding included in the Senate bill negotiated by Democrats and Republicans.

Most immigrants don’t hop a fence and aren’t convicted of crimes, according to studies. About half of the estimated 11.4 million undocumented immigrants in 2012 overstayed their visas, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Among those, about 820,000 had criminal convictions, according to a study by the Migration Policy Institute based on department figures of immigrants who could be removed for criminal records.

If Trump and lawmakers can’t agree on a budget bill by midnight Dec. 21, the government could see a partial shutdown.

After the adversarial meeting, Schumer said Trump’s “temper tantrum” won’t “get him his wall.” Pelosi referred to the prospective closure of agencies as a “Trump shutdown.”

“I asked him to pray over it” in search of a budget agreement, she said.

During the meeting, which featured finger-pointing, arm-waving and raised voices, Trump, Pelosi and Schumer argued their positions.

Though Trump argued mostly with Pelosi, Schumer chimed in to tell the president he shouldn’t threaten to shut down the government “because you can’t get your way.”

Trump said Pelosi is “in a situation where it’s not easy to talk right now” because she is trying to win votes to become speaker when Democrats take over the House next month.

Pelosi countered Trump: “Please don’t characterize the strength that I bring to this meeting.”

During the heated argument, Trump said, “I am proud to shut down the government” over his wall.