President Trump just indicated in a meeting with Democrat leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi that he’d be “proud” to shut down the government over lack of border wall funding.
The meeting over wall funding
The remark came during a high-stakes meeting between the President and the Democrat leaders who are trying to broker an agreement on how best to keep the government open past its funding deadline. Currently, the government is set to shut down absent a spending bill just a few days before Christmas. (RELATED: Congress Passes Short-Term Spending Bill to Avert Government Shutdown With No Wall Funding.)
Trump is demanding at least $5 billion dedicated to border wall funding in any spending package that keeps the government open. So far, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has only agreed to $1.6 billion – a figure Trump finds unacceptable.
Just before the meeting, Trump stressed the importance of securing the border and keeping out violent criminals. (RELATED: President Trump Warns of Illegal Immigration Dangers Ahead of Pelosi and Schumer Meeting.) Trump needs Congress to pass a spending bill before Democrats take control of the House of Representatives. Nancy Pelosi has already indicated that she’ll oppose any border wall funding while leading the Democrat caucus in the House.
Pelosi reportedly told Trump he “won’t win” on the border wall.
Pelosi to Trump in Oval Office on border wall: “you will not win” per @justinsink
— Erik Wasson (@elwasson) December 11, 2018
She also pressured Trump to not discuss the matter in front of the media:
Incredible argument unfolding now in front of the press between trump, Pelosi and Schumer over votes for border security. Pelosi keeps asking not to discuss it in front of the press. pic.twitter.com/pEEnFhuplY
— Vivian Salama (@vmsalama) December 11, 2018
Trump owns shutting down the government over the wall
When pressed on whether or not he’s willing to shut down the government over a lack of border wall funding, Trump threw down the gauntlet:
TRUMP SAYS `I WILL BE THE ONE TO SHUT IT DOWN’ IF NO WALL
— Erik Wasson (@elwasson) December 11, 2018
More from Trump: “And I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck” https://t.co/D9OPxmHz98
— Emma Kinery (@EmmaKinery) December 11, 2018
Trump’s misstep on owning the shut down
Pelosi noticed Trump’s mistake right away, branding any potential shutdown the “Trump Shutdown.”
Pelosi calls it a “Trump Shutdown” in the Oval Office.
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) December 11, 2018
President Trump argues with Nancy Pelosi over government funding and potential shutdown.
Pelosi: “I think the American people recognize that we must keep government open … that we should not have a Trump shutdown.”
Trump: “A what? Did you say Trump?” https://t.co/nTeGObvgKi pic.twitter.com/v8FbbPEyKR
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) December 11, 2018
Trump also admitted that they may not reach an agreement on border wall funding today:
During his meeting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, President Trump says “we may not have an agreement today, we probably won’t” on border wall funding, but “we have an agreement on other things that are really good” https://t.co/nTeGObvgKi pic.twitter.com/MAlATOwhO9
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) December 11, 2018
By owning the shutdown, Trump is letting Democrats off the hook. As president, he has sway to demand what he wants funded by Congress. Remember: Obama wasn’t blamed for demanding Congress fund Obamacare in 2013, despite Congress holding the purse strings when it comes to spending. Obama was seen as rightfully requesting what was due to him.
Trump campaigned on constructing a border wall. The American people elected him to office. He has every right to demand the wall, and Congress should fund it. It’s a bitter shame that Republicans, to this point, haven’t followed through on this.
If congressional Democrats, specifically those in the Senate needed to reach the 60-vote threshold, don’t fund his wall at this juncture, they deserve the blame for shutting down the government. Trump just played right into Pelosi’s trap by owning any shutdown.
There is one silver lining. Even if a spending bill passes without wall funding, Trump vowed to have the military construct the wall. (RELATED: Trump Confirms the U.S. Military Will Construct the Border Wall if Democrats Refuse Funding.)
Either way, we need the border wall and we need it now.