Skip to content

Trump Invites Congressional Leaders to WH for Border Security Briefing

House Democrats poised to vote this week on measure that would end government shutdown

President Donald Trump escalated his feud with California state leaders on Wednesday, tweeting he has cut off FEMA funds to the state over his view it mismanages the money in fighting forest fires. (Win McNamee/Getty Images file photo)
President Donald Trump escalated his feud with California state leaders on Wednesday, tweeting he has cut off FEMA funds to the state over his view it mismanages the money in fighting forest fires. (Win McNamee/Getty Images file photo)

President Donald Trump has invited congressional leaders to the White House Wednesday for a briefing on border security, according to a congressional source.

The top two incoming leaders of each party in both chambers were invited: Democrats Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin and Republicans Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Mitch McConnell and John Thune.

The briefing would be held just a day before House Democrats have said they will vote to reopen the government with six full-year appropriations bills and a short-term continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security.

A congressional aide said Department of Homeland Security officials are supposed to conduct the briefing but it could get canceled because not all of the leaders are back in town yet.

Trump signaled earlier this week he would not sign the bill that House Democrats plan to bring to the floor because it omits dollars for his proposed southern border barrier.

“The Democrats will probably submit a Bill, being cute as always, which gives everything away but gives NOTHING to Border Security, namely the Wall. You see, without the Wall there can be no Border Security — the Tech “stuff” is just, by comparison, meaningless bells & whistles,” he tweeted.

Trump vowed that Mexico would pay for the border wall as he campaigned for the presidency in 2016. After he was elected — with no indication that Mexico would comply — he turned his attention to Congress.

Watch: Remember When Donald Trump Wanted Mexico To Pay for the Wall?

[jwp-video n=”1″]

Trump began threatening to shut down the government if he didn’t get his funding months ago. 

In a Dec. 11 meeting with  Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, he indicated he would take responsibility for shutting down the government. 

“I am proud to shut down the government over border security,” Trump said at the contentious meeting. “I will take the mantle.”

Watch: Border Wall Meeting Gets Hectic Between Trump, Schumer, Pelosi

[jwp-video n=”2″]

 

Recent Stories

Legal questions surround Trump’s talk of political prosecutions

Trump can make immigration moves on his first day back in office

How RFK Jr.’s health proposals would stack up in practice

High hopes for bald eagle bill in the lame duck

Here’s a look at who’s in — and possibly in — Trump’s second administration

Trump administration faces antitrust enforcement dilemma