Government shutdown: Trump considers using emergency powers to fund border wall and end shutdown that could last 'months or even years'
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House Democrats have passed a plan to re-open the US government without funding President Donald Trump’s border wall — but a meeting between congressional leaders and the president in the White House has shown little promise for a quick fix to the ongoing funding problems.
The largely party-line votes on the bill Thursday – on the Democrats first day in the majority - came after Mr Trump made a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room, where he introduced leaders of the National Border Patrol Council who claimed a physical border barrier is necessary for national security. The president pledged to keep fighting for over $5bn in funding for the wall, which was a major campaign promise when he ran for president two years ago.
On Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Mr Trump — alongside the other seven top members of the Senate and House leadership caucuses — at the White House, where Democrats and Republicans clashed over the president's request for $5.6bn in border wall funding. Mr Trump, according to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, had threatened to maintain the government shutdown for "months or even years" if he does not get the funding he seeks.
Mr Trump, during a press conference at the White House Rose Garden following the meeting, confirmed that he had threatened to keep the shutdown going indefinitely if needed, but also confirmed that he is considering emergency powers to re-appropriate funds to build a border wall.
It has been two weeks since the government funding expired for a portion of the US government, forcing hundreds of thousands of federal workers to work without pay or stay home until the politicians in Washington can agree to funding legislation.
While congressional leaders have failed to reach an agreement, rubbish in the country's national parks has piled up and other basic services have been cut back.
Read along for our coverage of the ongoing talks between Congress and the White House below
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The freshman congresswoman who claimed that Democrats were going to impeach President Donald Trump during an expletive-riddled exclamation to supporters on Thursday evening has dodged questions from reporters about the comments, even though she tweeted on Friday that she is unapologetic about the remarks.
Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib's refusal to comment on her remarks to reporters was videotaped outside of the Capitol on Friday, where an aide attempted to divert reporter attention as she skirted around the group before ducking under yellow tape and entering her new place of employment.
The comments have drawn the ire of some Democrats who say Ms Tlaib's comments undercut Democratic efforts to put forth an image of responsible governance instead of partisan attacks in the early days of the new Congress.
"Mueller hasn’t even produced his report yet!” Wisconsin Democratic Representative Ron Kind told POLITICO, referencing special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. “People should cool their jets a little bit, let the prosecutors do their job and finish the investigation".
Here is the video of Representative Rashida Tlaib refusing to answer questions from reporters regarding her calls on Thursday to impeach President Donald Trump.
Ms Tlaib's comments have been met with criticism from some Democrats who argue that calls fro impeachment at this point — before special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian meddling in the 2016 election is even released — could be premature, and alienating.
Ms Tlaib said earlier in the day on Twitter that she was "unapologetic" for her comments.
Mr Trump has asserted his right to exercise "imminent domain" powers to build his wall.
He said so after being asked about the individuals who own land along the US border, which would need to be purchased in order to complete the US southern border if it gets funding.
President Donald Trump has said he "might consider" asking his cabinet officials to turn down their planned raises until after the government shutdown.
His cabinet secretaries are set to receive a raise tomorrow.
President Donald Trump has suggested that landlords should go "nice and easy" on federal workers who are not receiving paychecks during the government shutdown.
Mr Trump has suggested that those workers "believe" in his efforts to build a US border so much they are willing to go without pay until the issue is solved. He did not provide any evidence to prove that is the case.
During President Donald Trump's Rose Garden press conference, he confirmed that he is considering using emergency powers to secure funding for his border wall by diverting the money from other parts of the federal government.
That would mean potentially diverting Department of Defense funding to pay for the building of the wall, instead of forcing the ongoing government shutdown into the "months or even years" timeline that he reportedly said he is prepared to force if necessary.
"Yes I have," Mr Trump said when asked if he had considered declaring a state of emergency. "I could do it if I wanted".
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