Trump vows 'very long' government shutdown over border wall

Trump signing a farm bill on ThursdayImage copyright
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US President Donald Trump has threatened a “very long” government shutdown if Democrats do not fund his long-promised border wall.

In a series of tweets on Friday, Mr Trump demanded $5bn (£4bn), which was approved by the House but is expected to fail in the Senate.

“Shutdown today if Democrats do not vote for Border Security!” he tweeted.

If no deal is reached, parts of the US government will begin to close at midnight on Friday.

The partial shutdown would be the third such closure of federal agencies in 2018.

Republicans, including Mr Trump, have called on Senate leader Mitch McConnell to invoke the so-called “nuclear option”.

This would allow the budget vote to pass by a simple majority of 51 votes, rather than the 60 votes currently required under filibuster rules.

The president’s Republican party currently has 51 seats in the 100-seat Senate.

But Mr McConnell has repeatedly refused to invoke such an extreme legislative manoeuvre.

Pundits say the “nuclear option” would politically inflame an upper chamber that prides itself on comity.

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Rain falls on the Washington on Thursday night

source: bbc.com