Sen. Lindsey Graham said he encouraged President Trump to reopen the government in a last-ditch effort to try to work out a deal with Congress to fund the long-promised border wall.
If the negotiations fail, Trump could then try to use his executive powers to declare a national emergency and bypass Congress, according to the senator.
“I would urge him to open up the government for a short period of time, like three weeks, before he pulls the plug, see if we can get a deal,” Graham (R-SC) suggested on “Fox News Sunday.”
“If we can’t at the end of three weeks, all bets are off. See if he can do it by himself through the emergency powers.”
Noting that he spoke with Trump earlier in the morning, Graham claimed the president won’t yield even as the shutdown — the longest in US history — entered its 24th day on Monday.
“The president is not going to give in — no wall, no deal — but he’s ready to deal,” Graham said, adding that the window to reach a compromise is quickly closing.
Talks broke down last week when Trump walked out of the White House Situation Room after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said they wouldn’t give the president the $5.7 billion he wants even if he agrees to reopen some government agencies.
Tweeting from the White House where he was holed up on a snowy Sunday in Washington, Trump pointed out that Congress skipped town over the weekend.
“I’m in the White House, waiting. The Democrats are everywhere but Washington as people await their pay. They are having fun and not even talking!” Trump said.
In other posts, he reiterated his claims that the wall is needed to stop the flow of drugs across the border and to prevent crime.
“Thousands of illegal aliens who have committed sexual crimes against children are right now in Texas prisons. Most came through our Southern Border. We can end this easily – We need a Steel Barrier or Wall. Walls Work!” Trump wrote, attributing the sentiment to John Jones of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the House minority whip, said it’s not up to Trump to reopen the government.
“The president’s been very clear: Congress needs to solve this,” Scalise said on ABC’s “This Week.”