Shutdown negotiations don't seem to be improving during President Trump's visit to the southern border.
The big picture: Federal workers miss a paycheck tomorrow, three weeks into a shutdown that's raging over a $6 billion funding request that Trump threw into the process in the final days of unified Republican control in D.C. The federal discretionary budget is just under $1.4 trillion in 2019. Republicans had complete control of Congress and the White House for two years.
The latest:
- Trump rejected a Senate Republican proposal that would have re-opened the government while starting a bipartisan negotiation on immigration and border security, Politico reports.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham: "I think we're stuck. I just don't see a pathway forward. I don't see a way forward."
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “I don’t even know if the president wants the wall, he just wants the debate."
- VP Mike Pence: “It’s time for the Democrats to start negotiating ... if there’s no wall, there’s no deal.”
- Trump today: "I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency. I haven't done it yet. I may do it. If this doesn't work out, probably I will do it. I would almost say definitely."
- More Trump: "I think that China is actually much easier to deal with than the opposition party."
Reality check: Trump also said this today:
- "When I say Mexico is going to pay for the wall, that's what I said, 'Mexico is going to pay.' I didn't say they're going to write me a check for $20 billion or $10 billion. No one's going to write a check. I said they are going to pay for the wall."
- Trump's website in 2016: "It's an easy decision for Mexico: make a one-time payment of $5- 10 billion..."
Go deeper:...
- Full Axios shutdown coverage
- FBI agents say shutdown could threaten national security
- WashPost explores Trump's varying wall promises