Trump Holds the Reopening Block: No Wall, No Go!
The Standoff over Funding
President Donald Trump rolled out the “no go” headline on Tuesday, insisting the government will stay shut until he sees a $5 billion ($6.86 billion in Singapore dollars) line item that will finally allow a giant fence along the U.S.–Mexico border. The shutdown has now hit its fourth day.
Why the Wall Is Stuck
- His promised wall is the crown jewel of his 2016 platform—but both Democrats and some Republicans are calling it off.
- In scorn, Trump told the Senate to pull the plug on a wide‑open spending bill, stripping funding from a raft of agencies.
Trump’s “No Turn‑On” Statement
During a Christmas chat with U.S. troops, the president told reporters at the White House, “I can’t tell you when the government is going to be open. I can only say it won’t be until we get a wall, a fence, or whatever they call it.”
Wall Plans as the ‘Holiday Gift’
He drummed up a 115‑mile (185 km) segment of Texas for a brand‑new wall, planning to “walk along it” on January 31 before construction goes live—assuming the money gets into the coffers.
Trumps vision is to span 500‑to‑550 miles of the 2,000‑mile border, aiming for a “renovated or brand‑new” barrier by election time.
The Senate’s Plea
Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer made a sharp point last weekend: “President has to abandon the wall, plain and simple, if we’re looking to reopen the government.”
Trump’s Strong‑Arm Finale
He slammed Democrats and former FBI chief James Comey—who he dismissed in 2017 after a bump with the federal probe into alleged Russian ties to his campaign—at the end of his remarks.
“It’s a shame what’s happening in our country,” Trump declared, before throwing out a very Merry Christmas message with the same gusto he’s shown on the campaign trail.
