The US President has threatened to shut down the government for ‘months or even years’ as the dispute over funding for his planned border wall with Mexico continues.
President Donald Trump met with Democrats Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and other congressional leaders this afternoon in an attempt to bring the impasse to a close.
The US government is now approaching its third week of partial shutdown over the funding.
President Trump has demanded $5bn (€4.39bn) of government money for the project, which he originally claimed would be funded by Mexico, but the Democrats have refused to authorise the spending.
The shutdown has left 800,000 government workers unable to work or collect a salary.
During the meeting, President Trump also told the Democrats that he was considering declaring a national emergency so he could bypass US Congress and access the funds.
From left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen Dick Durbin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi walk to speak to reporters after meeting with US President Donald Trump, 04-01-2018. Image: AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Mr Schumer, the Senate minority leader, said the Democrats had asked President Trump to not "hold hundreds of thousands of Americans hostage" and to "open up the government" in order to continue discussions on the wall.
"We told the president we needed the government open. He resisted," he said. "In fact he said he would keep the government closed for a very long time for months or even years."
Asked if he had made the threat, President Trump told reporters: "Absolutely I said that. I don't think it will but I am prepared."
He added that discussions with the Democrats had been "productive" and that both sides were "on the same page" when it came to ending the government shutdown.
"It's very important that we have great border security," the president said. "I think it's going to be over with sooner than people think.
"I will do whatever we have to do. If we have to stay out for a very long time, we're going to do that."
He said he had designated a team to meet over the weekend to discuss an end to the standoff.
Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the meeting as "lengthy and sometimes contentious" and said the parties "cannot resolve this until we open up government."
