The US President says he will get the military to do the job if Congress refuses during a tense meeting with Chuck Schumer, the senior Democrat in the Republican-dominated Senate, and Nancy Pelosi, the likely speaker in the newly Democrat-controlled House, that was broadcast to the whole world.
The pair bluntly told Trump that he had no chance of getting the $5 billion he wants for the wall, but the President said he will retaliate – by refusing to sign a federal spending bill required by December 21 that leave large parts of the government without funding.
“Yes, if we don’t get what we want one way or the other…, I will shut down the government,” he said. “I am proud to shut down the government for border security.”
You can watch the exchange here – it goes downhill fast.
Both Ms Pelosi and Mr Schumer ask the President not to argue in front of the media – but the meeting continued. “We’re doing this in a very friendly manner,” Trump adds.
Will Trump get his wish, however? The US Congress has spent most of the two years since he was elected in political gridlock and with the Democrats set to take over the lower house in January, we can’t see that changing – much like the look on Vice-President Mike Pence’s face.
