President Trump climbed down from his $5.7 billion demand for a border wall on Thursday as his proposal to reopen the government failed in the U.S. Senate. The president claimed that he technically 'won' the vote that failed in Cabinet Room remarks. It didn't hit a 60-vote threshold necessary to overcome a filibuster. Trump now says he would take a 'pro-rated down payment' on his border wall.
Vice President Mike Pence delivered the message to lawmakers when he was on Capitol Hill earlier in the afternoon. A deal did not immediately emerge, but White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that one was under negotiation.
'Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Chuck Schumer are meeting now to see whether or not they can work out of the deadlock. As was made clear to Senator Lindsay Graham, the 3 week CR would only work if there is a large down payment on the wall,' she said.
Responding immediately, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the 'down payment' on the House floor, saying, 'That is not a reasonable agreement.'
President Trump also issued a vaguely-worded threat about next steps. He said cryptically, 'I have other alternatives, if I have to. And I will use those alternatives, if I have to.' CNN reported that the president was preparing to issue a proclamation declaring a national emergency.
His acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told DailyMail.com on Saturday that it is the White House's belief that the president has that power but Trump didn't want to.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on whether that was what Trump was planning to do next. Both President Donald Trump's and House Democrats' plans to reopen the government failed Thursday as the back-to-back votes went down in flames in the Senate, leaving no end to the government shutdown in sight.
Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Chuck Schumer are meeting now to see whether or not they can work out of the deadlock. As was made clear to Senator Lindsay Graham, the 3 week CR would only work if there is a large down payment on the wall.
The lack of support for the separate bills was predicted yet it played out against high-drama.
About two dozen House Democrats, including rising star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and civil rights legend John Lewis, marched across the Capitol and into the Senate chamber to watch the vote while Vice President Mike Pence huddled with Republican lawmakers in a room across the hall.
Trump's plan to reopen the government failed 50-47 and the Democrats' proposal failed 52-44, more 'yes' votes that the president's bill netted.
Six Republicans crossed over to support the Democrats: Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Susan Collins of Maine, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah.
Each plan needed 60 votes to advance in the legislative process.
Trump repeatedly claimed he 'won' the vote, even though it fell short of the 60.
'To my Democratic friends, money for a barrier is required to get this done. It will not be a concrete wall and the money will be a program to a [Department of Homeland Security] plan that all of you know about and have been briefed on and should approve. You're not giving President Trump a bunch of money to do anyway he wants to with. He's got to spend it on a plan the professionals have come up with,' Graham said.
'I want to let the public know I have never been more optimistic than I am now that we can open up the government for three weeks,' he added.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that the three-week plan would only work if there was a 'large down payment' on Trump's $5.7 billion border wall.
'Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Chuck Schumer are meeting now to see whether or not they can work out of the deadlock. As was made clear to Senator Lindsay Graham, the 3 week CR would only work if there is a large down payment on the wall,' she said in a statement.
Earlier Thursday Trump once again insisted on a border wall as his price for reopening the government – and vowed he will not 'cave' to Democrats amid reports they are preparing to offer more money for security but no funds for his wall.
Trump fired off his latest defense of his wall in a tweet sent as Speaker Nancy Pelosi took questions from reporters on Capitol Hill – and said without a border wall 'it doesn't work.'
'Nancy just said she 'just doesn't understand why?' Very simply, without a Wall it all doesn't work. Our Country has a chance to greatly reduce Crime, Human Trafficking, Gangs and Drugs. Should have been done for decades. We will not Cave!,' he tweeted.
He acknowledged on Thursday afternoon that he had not spoken to Pelosi since he walked out of a meeting.
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