The White House has climbed down from President Trump's assertion last week that he would shut down the government if he doesn't get funding for a border wall.
As a reminder:
Over the past few days, the language has changed as White House officials replace the term "wall" with "border security."
During a briefing at the White House Tuesday, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said President Trump has asked each of member of his cabinet to look for extra cash. She also argued the new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, which hasn't made it through Congress, will pay for a wall.
"We're looking at every avenue available to us possible. The President has asked every one of his Cabinet Secretaries to look for funding that can be used to protect our borders and give the President the ability to fulfill his constitutional obligation to protect the American people by having a secure border," Sanders said.
"The President has been clear that the USMCA deal would provide additional revenue through that deal that would show that Mexico was paying for the wall," Sanders continued. "He's saying that the revenue provided and the money that would be saved through the USMCA deal, we could pay for the wall four times over. And by doing that new trade deal, we have the opportunity to pay for the wall."
President Trump is also making this case.
Mexico is paying (indirectly) for the Wall through the new USMCA, the replacement for NAFTA! Far more money coming to the U.S. Because of the tremendous dangers at the Border, including large scale criminal and drug inflow, the United States Military will build the Wall!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018
Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway argued on Fox and Friends Wednesday morning that the President isn't backing down on his promises for border security.
Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats appear to have made a deal to avoid a government shutdown.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member