US President Donald Trump says he will not “cave” in to pressure from Democrats to reopen the government that has been shut down for over a month.
Leaders in the Senate announced on Tuesday that they had struck an agreement to hold two votes on January 24 in order to end the shutdown stalemate on Capitol Hill.
The first vote will be on Trump's proposals to reopen the federal government and providing $5.7 billion in funding the president wants for the border wall and the second on extending legal protections to some immigrants for a span of three years.
Trump said Tuesday on Twitter that he would not end the shutdown unless the funding for the wall along the US-Mexican border is approved.
The president also blamed the Democrats for the shutdown, accusing them of playing “political games.”
Without a Wall our Country can never have Border or National Security. With a powerful Wall or Steel Barrier, Crime Rates (and Drugs) will go substantially down all over the U.S. The Dems know this but want to play political games. Must finally be done correctly. No Cave!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2019
“The Democrats are playing politics with Border Security.” @foxandfriends
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2019
Meanwhile, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell expressed hope that the Thursday vote on legislation to fund the wall would reopen shuttered parts of the government.
“The opportunity to end all this is staring us right in the face. That's why we'll vote on this legislation on the Senate floor this week. All that needs to happen is for our Democratic colleagues to agree that it's time to put the country ahead of politics, take yes for an answer and vote to put this standoff behind us.”
McConnell, however, denounced as “bold, comprehensive offer” the recent proposal outlined by the US president.
In a televised speech on Saturday, Trump called on lawmakers to approve the funding for the wall in exchange for temporary protections for young undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children — known as Dreamers — and individuals from some Central American and African nations.
Democratic lawmakers have so far rejected the offer and have remained firm in refusing to agree to any new money for the border wall. They have dismissed the proposal as “hostage taking” and a “non-starter.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that the president is to blame, tweeting “end the shutdown now.”
.@realDonaldTrump, 800,000 Americans are going without pay. Re-open the government, let workers get their paychecks and then we can discuss how we can come together to protect the border. #EndTheShutdown https://t.co/8RKUTnhgBd
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 20, 2019