President Donald Trump and Democrats continue to clash on the issue of using Pentagon money to fund the southern border wall.
On Tuesday, Trump threatened to order the military to finish the wall’s construction if Democrats continue to block funding for it, Fox News reported.
“People do not yet realize how much of the Wall, including really effective renovation, has already been built. If the Democrats do not give us the votes to secure our Country, the Military will build the remaining sections of the Wall. They know how important it is!” Trump tweeted early Tuesday.
….People do not yet realize how much of the Wall, including really effective renovation, has already been built. If the Democrats do not give us the votes to secure our Country, the Military will build the remaining sections of the Wall. They know how important it is!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2018
The tweet came ahead of Trump’s meeting with House minority leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer at the White House. Trump is urging Democrats to comply with his $5 billion request for border wall construction, although they have refused thus far.
“I look forward to my meeting with Chuck Schumer & Nancy Pelosi. In 2006, Democrats voted for a Wall, and they were right to do so. Today, they no longer want Border Security. They will fight it at all cost, and Nancy must get votes for Speaker. But the Wall will get built,” Trump said in another Tuesday morning tweet.
…..I look forward to my meeting with Chuck Schumer & Nancy Pelosi. In 2006, Democrats voted for a Wall, and they were right to do so. Today, they no longer want Border Security. They will fight it at all cost, and Nancy must get votes for Speaker. But the Wall will get built…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2018
Trump had previously threatened to shut down the government until his funding demands are met, a threat he again made Tuesday.
“I’d like not to see a government closing, a shutdown. We will see what happens,” Trump said during the televised meeting with Pelosi and Schumer, as reported by CBS News.
After Pelosi told Trump, “you will not win,” and Schumer echoed her sentiment, Trump fired back.
“If we don’t get what we want one way or the other … I will shut down the government,” the President said. “And I am proud … I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck.”
In a joint statement on Monday, Pelosi and Schumer said, “Republicans still control the House, the Senate and the White House, and they have the power to keep government open. Our country cannot afford a Trump Shutdown.”
In brief remarks to the press after Tuesday’s meeting, the pair reiterated the blame on the GOP if a government shutdown occurs.
“The president has the White House, he has the Senate, he has the House of Representatives, all in Republican control,” Pelosi said. “He has the power to keep government open. Instead, he has admitted in this meeting that he will take responsibility, the Trump shutdown is something that can be avoided. The American people do not need at the time of economic uncertainty, people losing jobs, the market in the mood and the rest, the Trump shutdown is luxury that the American people cannot afford.”
Trump noted during the meeting that construction on the border wall has already taken place and proven effective in numerous areas. He also cited illegal entry statistics in key border crossing areas, further lamenting on Democrats’ opposition to the wall’s effectiveness against illegal immigration.
