President Trump said on Wednesday that the government shutdown will last “as long as it takes” Democrats to cough up the cash he wants for a wall on the southern border.
“As long as it takes. Look, I’m prepared. I think the people of the country think I’m right. Again, I could have done nothing. Could have a lot easier presidency by doing nothing. But I’m here, I want to do it right,” Trump said in wide-ranging remarks from the Cabinet Room minutes before a briefing on border security with top national security officials and top lawmakers from both parties.
The commander-in-chief also lamented spending Christmas alone in the White House while his family celebrated the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
“My family was down in Florida. I said, ‘Stay there and enjoy yourself.’ I felt I should be here just in case people wanted to come and negotiate the border security,” he said in remarks that also covered trade, European allies, Afghanistan, Syria, Russia, ObamaCare, illegal immigration and other topics.
The president also noted that he effectively fired former Defense Secretary James Mattis while slamming the job the Marine general did in Afghanistan — and suggested he perhaps could have done a better job militarily himself.
“I think I would have been a good general, but who knows?” he said.
Trump, who repeatedly said while campaigning that Mexico would pay for the wall, insisted earlier Wednesday that because of the new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, Mexico was in fact paying for the wall — even though the tentative deal has not been ratified by Congress.
“Mexico is paying for the Wall through the new USMCA Trade Deal. Much of the Wall has already been fully renovated or built. We have done a lot of work. $5.6 Billion Dollars that House has approved is very little in comparison to the benefits of National Security. Quick payback!” he tweeted.
But while fencing has been expanded and replaced, no work has begun on a border wall.
The briefing was to take place at 3 p.m., the day before Democrats were to take control of the House and end the GOP’s monopoly on government.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and the top incoming House Republicans — Kevin McCarthy of California and Steve Scalise of Louisiana — planned to attend, according to aides.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to become speaker on Thursday, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) planned to attend.
Trump said his homeland security officials will “make a plea” for the border wall with Mexico during a briefing for congressional leaders Wednesday at the White House as the partial government shutdown over his demand for wall funding entered its 12th day.
The president made his case anew ahead of the afternoon session with Democratic and Republican leaders about the migrants arriving at the border in recent days.
He said the border is “like a sieve” and noted the tear gas “flying” overnight to deter them. He called the border “very tough” at keeping immigrants out.
“If they knew they couldn’t come through, they wouldn’t even start,” Trump said.