President Trump is about to make the most consequential decision of his presidency: Whether or not to shutter the government over a lack of funding for a border wall.
The stakes are higher than ever
President Trump’s entire presidential campaign was predicated on one thing: Building a wall along the southern border to curtail illegal immigration. Trump also ran on renegotiating our trade agreements, not starting any more wars in the Middle East, and routing the corruption in Washington. But, more than anything, he campaigned as an immigration hawk. His tagline was “build the wall.”
A failure to deliver on this campaign promise will no doubt doom his 2020 reelection efforts. (RELATED: President Donald Trump Needs to Put Up or Shut Up on Immigration.)
With the government set to close Friday at midnight, this is Trump’s last chance to force a Republican Congress into funding his border wall. But already, Senate Republicans have passed a measure keeping the government open until February – well into the time Nancy Pelosi will be Speaker. (RELATED: House Expected To Pass Spending Bill Senate Pushed Through Late Wednesday Night.)
It’s all up to House Republicans now
Now it’s up to House Republicans: Either they stay strong and fight for the border wall funding, or they fold and give Democrats everything.
Jake Sherman of Politico breaks it down:
By midnight tomorrow, a portion of the govt shuts down 4 days before Christmas, and the WH is silent about how it wants this process completed.
My sources there have told me everything. They both do and don’t want a short-term bill. Want big big, don’t. Want shutdown, don’t.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 20, 2018
Senate has unanimously passed govt funding. No roll call vote. The entire chamber has agreed that it wants to punt funding until 2/8
The funding is the same as it is now: $1.3b for border security. No new wall money. Certainly nothing approaching $5 billion, which POTUS wants
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 20, 2018
Now, House is getting ready to figure out what it wants to do. I have very little doubt that this bill will have 218 votes. But it will be mostly Democrats.
What will the president do when he sees his allies — Jordan, Meadows, etc — vote no, and say Trump has abandoned his base?
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 20, 2018
We don’t know. Because the president has not indicated what he wants.
so we’re all here now, the day before the government shutdown, and we’re left to guess what the president will do five days before Christmas. Last gasp of the GOP majority almost eight years in.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 20, 2018
House GOP is about to start its meeting in the Capitol basement. We’ll know more in an hour or so.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 20, 2018
That all sums it up very well: Either Republicans deliver on the wall now, or it isn’t coming. Period.
Trump’s big decision
The White House indicated earlier this week it was fine with yet another short-term spending package to delay the wall fight. (RELATED: John Cornyn Confirms Trump Will Sign Spending Deal Without Wall.) But, now the White House has been silent on whether or not it’s willing to sign the latest spending measure.
Ann Coulter, the staunchest Trump backer during the campaign, is already saying Trump is finished if he fails to deliver here. (RELATED: Ann Coulter: If Trump Doesn’t Get the Wall His Presidency Will Have Been a Joke.)
Trump’s entire presidency rides on this moment. He’ll never have this chance again. A Democrat-controlled House means no wall, ever.
What will Trump do?
