President Donald Trump threatened to close the U.S. southern border if Democratic lawmakers refuse to appropriate funding for his proposed wall, in a Friday morning tweet.
We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall & also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with. Hard to believe there was a Congress & President who would approve!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018
….The United States looses soooo much money on Trade with Mexico under NAFTA, over 75 Billion Dollars a year (not including Drug Money which would be many times that amount), that I would consider closing the Southern Border a “profit making operation.” We build a Wall or…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018
…..close the Southern Border. Bring our car industry back into the United States where it belongs. Go back to pre-NAFTA, before so many of our companies and jobs were so foolishly sent to Mexico. Either we build (finish) the Wall or we close the Border……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018
…..Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries – taking advantage of U.S. for years!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018
Trump’s frustrated threat comes just one day after Democratic lawmakers walked away from negotiations with the White House, a senior White House official told The Daily Caller on Thursday evening. The official noted that the Democratic lawmakers appear more concerned with preserving Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi’s likely speakership than end a partial government shutdown. (RELATED: Is Trump Blowing His Last Chance To Get The Wall?)
President Donald Trump argues about border security with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as VP Mike Pence sits nearby in the Oval Office (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Trump is currently demanding $5 billion in funding for his proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, but Democrats are only willing to give up to $1.6 billion for border security. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, however, have vowed to not appropriate a single dollar toward the border wall.
The shutdown is now likely to last into the new year when Democrats will retake control of the House of Representatives. Pelosi vowed shortly after the partial government shutdown that when she presumably assumes her speakership of the House, Democrats would put forth legislation attempting to open the government without any of the president’s demands.
U.S. President Donald Trump dons a hard hat presented by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) before addressing their convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 2, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a scathing statement Thursday afternoon saying, “the Administration understands this crisis and made a reasonable, common-sense solution to Democrats five days ago – we’ve not received a single response.”
“The President and his team stayed in Washington over Christmas hoping to negotiate a deal that would stop the dangerous crisis on the border, protect American communities, and re-open the government,” she continued.