President Donald Trump has been tweeting about the proposed border wall for the past 24 hours, punctuated with stray thoughts about ISIS and Syria in the wake of his decision to withdraw troops from that country, and the retirement of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
Today, the Senate will vote on an omnibus bill to keep the government funded; if the bill doesn’t include the proposed $5 billion for Trump’s border wall project, the president has vowed to veto the bill and shut the government down “for a very long time.”
While Trump said in a meeting with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that he would be proud to shut down the government if the bill didn’t include the proposed funding, he’s now reversed course and is preemptively blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
The Democrats now own the shutdown!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
The tirade truly began in earnest yesterday.
“The Democrats, who know Steel Slats (Wall) are necessary for Border Security, are putting politics over Country. What they are just beginning to realize is that I will not sign any of their legislation, including infrastructure, unless it has perfect Border Security. U.S.A. WINS!” he began on Thursday.
The Democrats, who know Steel Slats (Wall) are necessary for Border Security, are putting politics over Country. What they are just beginning to realize is that I will not sign any of their legislation, including infrastructure, unless it has perfect Border Security. U.S.A. WINS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018
Trump continued threatening the shut down in a series of tweets, calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to bring out the “Nuclear Option”—removing the option to filibuster and requiring only a simple majority, not a 60-vote majority, to pass the bill.
With so much talk about the Wall, people are losing sight of the great job being done on our Southern Border by Border Patrol, ICE and our great Military. Remember the Caravans? Well, they didn’t get through and none are forming or on their way. Border is tight. Fake News silent!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018
When I begrudgingly signed the Omnibus Bill, I was promised the Wall and Border Security by leadership. Would be done by end of year (NOW). It didn’t happen! We foolishly fight for Border Security for other countries – but not for our beloved U.S.A. Not good!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018
Democrats, it is time to come together and put the SAFETY of the AMERICAN PEOPLE before POLITICS. Border security must become a #1 priority! pic.twitter.com/Wck6UpQGil
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018
Trump praised the House for passing legislation late last night that included wall funding, the went on and on and on.
And on.
Thank you to our GREAT Republican Members of Congress for your VOTE to fund Border Security and the Wall. The final numbers were 217-185 and many have said that the enthusiasm was greater than they have ever seen before. So proud of you all. Now on to the Senate!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
Soon to be Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, last week live from the Oval Office, that the Republicans didn’t have the votes for Border Security. Today the House Republicans voted and won, 217-185. Nancy does not have to apologize. All I want is GREAT BORDER SECURITY!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
Senator Mitch McConnell should fight for the Wall and Border Security as hard as he fought for anything. He will need Democrat votes, but as shown in the House, good things happen. If enough Dems don’t vote, it will be a Democrat Shutdown! House Republicans were great yesterday!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
The Democrats are trying to belittle the concept of a Wall, calling it old fashioned. The fact is there is nothing else’s that will work, and that has been true for thousands of years. It’s like the wheel, there is nothing better. I know tech better than anyone, & technology…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
…..on a Border is only effective in conjunction with a Wall. Properly designed and built Walls work, and the Democrats are lying when they say they don’t. In Israel the Wall is 99.9% successful. Will not be any different on our Southern Border! Hundreds of $Billions saved!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
No matter what happens today in the Senate, Republican House Members should be very proud of themselves. They flew back to Washington from all parts of the World in order to vote for Border Security and the Wall. Not one Democrat voted yes, and we won big. I am very proud of you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
The Democrats, whose votes we need in the Senate, will probably vote against Border Security and the Wall even though they know it is DESPERATELY NEEDED. If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don’t want Open Borders and Crime!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
House Republican Vote, 217-185.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
Shutdown today if Democrats do not vote for Border Security!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
Even President Ronald Reagan tried for 8 years to build a Border Wall, or Fence, and was unable to do so. Others also have tried. We will get it done, one way or the other!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
Thank you @SteveDaines for being willing to go with the so-called nuclear option in order to win on DESPERATELY NEEDED Border Security! Have my total support.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
The Democrats now own the shutdown!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
Senators are now headed to Washington for a vote on the funding package. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) tweeted Friday that he would “vote no on this stupid wall.”
Wheels down IAD ready to vote no on this stupid wall.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) December 21, 2018
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) called the president’s attempts to blame the shutdown on Democrats “bullshit” while talking with Chris Hayes Thursday night.
These last two days have felt like we’ve been on a roller coaster with @realDonaldTrump at the controls. The Senate did the responsible thing by keeping government running—only to have President Trump get all worked up by some right-wing loud people yelling at him on Fox News. pic.twitter.com/KCsk8rSwM9
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) December 21, 2018
According to the Washington Post, many government agencies are in the final stages of preparing for a shutdown. The Post estimates that some 480,000 workers would be affected by the shutdown, including Customs and Border Patrol and Transportation Security Agency workers.
A Senate vote is expected to occur around noon.
