Thread: Trump’s Christmas message to Democrats: Government shutdown will last ‘until we have

Trump’s Christmas message to Democrats: Government shutdown will last ‘until we have a wall’

By Greg Norman | Fox News
Published 3 hours ago

President Trump has a Christmas message for Democrats – the government is going to remain partially shut down “until we have a wall [or] fence.”

Trump, speaking to reporters Tuesday in the Oval Office during the fourth day of the impasse, also revealed that he will be going to the border in Texas for a “groundbreaking” ceremony for a portion of the project at the end of January.

“While we’re fighting over funding, we’re also building, and it’s my hope to have this done, completed, all 500 to 550 miles, to have it either renovated or brand new by Election Day,” he said.

Democrats, though, remain opposed to approving additional funding for a border wall as part of a new government spending package -- and their hand only strengthens once the party takes control of the House next month. The White House warned over the weekend that the shutdown standoff could extend into the new year, and Trump on Tuesday made clear he's not planning to budge either.

“I can’t tell you when the government is going to be open,” Trump said. “I can tell you it's not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they want to call it.

“It’s a barrier from people pouring into our country,” he added. “It’s a barrier from drugs.”

Trump also accused Democrats of wanting open borders – while claiming some federal workers are on his side.

"Many of those workers have said to me, communicated, ‘stay out until you get the funding for the wall.’ These federal workers want the wall,” Trump told reporters.

Trump insisted that it would be effective in keeping illegal immigrants from entering the U.S.

“There may be a case of an Olympic champion who may get over the wall, but for the most part, you’re not going to be able to do it,” Trump quipped.

Democratic leaders on Christmas Eve, meanwhile, said the “president wanted the shutdown, but he seems not to know how to get himself out of it.”

The White House presented a counteroffer over the weekend that is between Trump's $5.7 billion price tag and the $1.3 billion Democrats have offered, according to budget director Mick Mulvaney.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer's office, though, said the parties remained "very far apart."

The impact of the shutdown, meanwhile, could be felt soon.

Trump excused federal employees from work on Monday and Christmas is a federal holiday, meaning the public could begin to notice the shutdown's effects on Wednesday. Some 800,000 federal workers must either work without pay for the time being, or stay home and wait to be paid later.

Several Cabinet departments and agencies have been closed since Saturday after their funding lapsed.

Trump is at the White House, while his family is in Florida for Christmas. He talked to reporters Tuesday after he offered greetings to American troops stationed around the world.

“It’s a disgrace what’s happening in our country, but other than that I wish everybody a very Merry Christmas,” he said.

Fox News’ Jennifer Bowman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tru...we-have-a-wall

Close the WHOLE border down until Mexico starts bussing them home.


LET THEM LOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITH A CLOSED BORDER!

WE ARE SICK OF PAYING $133 BILLION A YEAR ON ILLEGALS!

Building permits up 5%. GDP growth 3.5%. Wage growth for the year, 3.1%. Unemployment rate 3.7%. Investment at over 10%. Federal tax revenues after tax cuts is billions more than it was before the tax cuts, so they're already paying for themselves. Troops in Syria coming home. China has agreed to 142 changes to our trade situation with them. USMCA finalized waiting for Congress to ratify after the 30th of December which raises wages in Mexico which will reduce wage related migration into US from Mexico. New agreement with Mexico on asylum seekers and other illegal aliens to remain in Mexico or be kicked back into Mexico which stops entry of so many illegal aliens into the US. Almost 100 miles of new/renovated fence/wall constructed or in progress with another 115 mile fence/wall contract granted yesterday for Texas. Mexico commits to $30 billion in aid over next 6 years to Central America to improve their situation which will reduce jobs/economic migration into US. Peace deal with North Korea in second Summit stage for early next year when they reveal to Trump the location of all their nuclear facilities. So much progress, so many good things for our country, plus many many more than these I've mentioned.

To me, to distort this fabulous remarkable year on so many fronts including our immigration issue on this bad note of a government shutdown on top of Republicans losing the US House of Representatives in the mid-terms which is just a big 24/7 free ad for "fail" is really sad.

This isn't Trump being Trump, this isn't his cup of tea, it's not how he works, it's a duck out of water deal, and so much off his game of how he actually achieves things, he couldn't even articulate it into a proper message to the troops today.

Hope it ends soon. I would have much preferred shutting down the border as you suggest, Beezer! I would be on board for that 100%.