After a Friday meeting at the White House, ending the government shutdown appears no closer to reality. In fact, both sides seem more entrenched every day.
From The Washington Post:
“President Trump and congressional leaders failed again on Friday to break a deadlock that has kept the government partially shut down for two weeks, and the top Senate Democrat said the president threatened to keep agencies closed for “months or even years.”
“Emerging from what they called a “sometimes contentious” meeting at the White House, Democratic leaders said Mr. Trump remained adamant that he would not sign spending bills to reopen the shuttered offices unless Congress approved money for his wall on the southern border.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer updates on state of negotiations to reopen government after meeting with Pres. Trump: "We told the president we needed the government open. He resisted. In fact, he said he'd keep the government closed for a very long period of time." https://t.co/tWm9rwdemj pic.twitter.com/yVPxfgRqCx
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 4, 2019
Shortly after the meeting, the press was summoned to the rose garden where Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and GOP Congressional leaders spoke of the need for a wall. Trump’s misstatements were numerous and lengthy.
https://twitter.com/joshscampbell/status/1081267782447116288
So much to chew over in Trump’s Rose Garden speech, but I’m stuck on this: He claimed previous presidents have told him they wish they’d built a border wall. Really? Obama? Bush 43? Clinton? Bush 41? Carter? None has signaled in any way that he is pro-wall.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) January 4, 2019
ABC News is reporting that Trump is considering declaring a national emergency to secure funding.
“Sources tell ABC News the discussions are still on the “working level” adding that there’s a range of legal mechanisms that are being considered before such a decision is announced.
“The president, when asked about ABC News’ reporting later on Friday during a press conference, acknowledged that he would consider granting himself national emergency powers to help get the wall built “for the security of our country”. He did not elaborate on the details of such a process.”