Trump rejects proposal for temporary government reopening
(VOVWORLD) - US President Donald Trump on Monday turned down a proposal from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to reopen the government for 3 weeks to allow resumption of negotiations on a funding standoff.
 US President Donald Trump delivers a speech at the White House on January 4, 2019. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Graham said if talks fail during that period, Trump could go ahead and declare a national emergency to bypass Congress and get money for a wall on the US-Mexico border, the issue that triggered the shutdown last month. Trump has held out the option of declaring a national emergency if he cannot get a deal with lawmakers. Democrats have refused further negotiations until the government is reopened.