It was announced on Saturday Donald Trump will remain the US capital throughout the Christmas period. A row over funding of the Mexico border wall has left Congress unable to pass a budget. The failure to pass the budget means federal employees could be forced to take unpaid leave and public services stopped until an agreement can be reached by US lawmakers.
Melania, and her son Barron Trump, arrived at the Florida based Mar-a-Lago club on Friday afternoon and had been planning to spend over two weeks there.
However, Trump’s inability to leave Washington has meant the pair have decided to return to the White House so they can still spend Christmas together as a family.
White House Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders, confirmed: “Due to the shutdown, President Trump will remain in Washington, DC.
“The First Lady will return from Florida so they can spend Christmas together.”
READ MORE: MASSIVE US ‘SHUTDOWN’ OVER BORDER WALL FUNDING ROW BEGINS
Senators are not due to meet again until December 27, meaning there is little chance of a last minute end to the impasse before Christmas Day.
Trump and his family celebrate the holiday season in Florida almost every year.
One annual tradition includes Christmas Eve Mass at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach.
The church was the location for Melania and Donald’s wedding in 2005.
READ MORE: WHY DO DONALD TRUMP AND MELANIA TRUMP SPEND CHRISTMAS AT MAR-A-LAGO?
A large Christmas banquet also usually takes place on December 25.
Last year’s menu for the dinner included a choice of turkey, filet mignon, short ribs, sea bass and diver scallops.
It is still unclear whether the First Family will return to Mar-a-Lago at a later date over the festive period.
Trump enjoys spending time at the Florida residence and has even dubbed it his “winter White House”.