President Trump says he rejected plan to reopen the government to negotiate border wall
President Donald Trump said Monday he has rejected a compromise plan to reopen the government temporarily so that he could continue negotiating a border wall with his Democratic congressional foes.
Speaking with reporters as he was en route to a speech before the American Farm Bureau Federation’s convention in New Orleans, Trump continued to blame the Democrats even though no new negotiations have been scheduled since he walked out of a session on Wednesday.
Trump said he rejected a plan from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., because he wants a permanent fix to the border security issue, including $5.7 billion for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. Graham's plan would reopen the government for three weeks while the two sides continued negotiating.
"I want to get it solved," Trump said. "I don't want to just delay it."
Video: Trump Touts Wall, Farm-Friendly Immigration
While the shutdown is now in its 24th day, a record, Trump also said: "I don't know if we're close on a deal."
Earlier in the morning, on Twitter, Trump blamed Democratic leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the shutdown, basically saying they should sign onto his wall plan.
"Nancy and Cryin’ Chuck can end the Shutdown in 15 minutes," Trump said. "At this point it has become their, and the Democrats, fault!"
Schumer, Pelosi, and other Democrats said it is Trump's insistence on an ineffective wall that has led to the shutdown.
They also noted he has rejected compromises that would reopen the government in the meantime.
In a tweeted response to Trump, Pelosi said Monday that Democrats are pushing their own plan to reopen the government while border security negotiations continue, but Trump and the Republican-run Senate are blocking it.
"The truth?" Pelosi tweeted. "Republicans started the #TrumpShutdown — and Democrats are working to end it. @realDonaldTrump, it’s time for you to stop standing in the way of re-opening the government. Let the Senate vote! #EndTheShutdown."
Back at the White House, Trump again claimed he has the authority to declare a national emergency on the border, allowing him to use existing defense money for a wall – a move that would no doubt trigger lawsuits from Democrats who say Trump lacks the legal authority to declare an emergency in this case.
Some Republicans have also questioned the national emergency strategy.
Still, since broaching the issue last week, Trump said he wants to hold off any declaration, saying he and Congress should work out the wall dispute.
"I'm not looking to call a national emergency," Trump said Monday.
In blaming the Democrats, Trump stressed that the other party controls the U.S. House and has the votes to block action in the Senate with a filibuster.
"The Democrats have to do something," Trump said. "We need their votes. Otherwise, we can't solve it without their votes."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Trump says he rejected plan to reopen the government to negotiate border wall
