As budget deadline looms trump pushes border wall funding

On December 19, 2018, as the deadline for a government shutdown loomed, President Donald Trump pushed for funding for his long-promised border wall with Mexico. The funding was a key sticking point in negotiations between Trump and Democratic leaders in Congress.

Trump had been insisting on $5 billion in funding for the wall, which he claimed was necessary to secure the border and prevent illegal immigration. However, Democrats had refused to budge, arguing that the wall was a costly and ineffective solution to the country's immigration problems.

As the deadline for a government shutdown approached, Trump tweeted that he would be "proud" to shut down the government if he didn't get the funding he wanted. He also threatened to declare a national emergency to build the wall, which would allow him to bypass Congress and use military funds to build the barrier.

The standoff led to a partial government shutdown, which lasted for 35 days and affected about 800,000 federal employees. The shutdown was the longest in U.S. history at the time, and it had significant economic and social impacts on the country.

In the end, Trump agreed to a short-term funding bill that did not include funding for the wall. The bill reopened the government for three weeks, giving lawmakers time to negotiate a longer-term solution. However, the standoff highlighted the deep divisions between Trump and Democrats on the issue of immigration and border security.

Here are some key quotes and reactions from the time:

The standoff ultimately ended with the passage of a short-term funding bill that did not include funding for the wall. However, the issue remains a contentious one, and it is likely to continue to be a point of contention in the future.