The White House still won't rule out Mexico paying for President Donald Trump's proposed border wall, even as the president threatens to shut down the government over federal funding for the project.
On Tuesday, Trump said, "If we have to close down our government, we're building that wall." Democrats are insisting that funding for the controversial barrier is not included in a bill to keep the government running past the Sept. 30 deadline.
During a briefing Thursday, reporters repeatedly pushed press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about why Trump would threaten a shutdown after he promised as a candidate that Mexico would fund the wall. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has insisted that Mexico will not pay for the project, and Trump himself appeared resigned to that during a private call with his counterpart.
Asked multiple questions about the pledge to make Mexico pay, Sanders first responded that Trump would make sure the wall gets completed and that he would fight for the funding.
"The president's committed to making sure this gets done," she said, without addressing how the United States' southern neighbor would fit in.
On Tuesday, Trump said, "If we have to close down our government, we're building that wall." Democrats are insisting that funding for the controversial barrier is not included in a bill to keep the government running past the Sept. 30 deadline.
During a briefing Thursday, reporters repeatedly pushed press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about why Trump would threaten a shutdown after he promised as a candidate that Mexico would fund the wall. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has insisted that Mexico will not pay for the project, and Trump himself appeared resigned to that during a private call with his counterpart.
Asked multiple questions about the pledge to make Mexico pay, Sanders first responded that Trump would make sure the wall gets completed and that he would fight for the funding.
"The president's committed to making sure this gets done," she said, without addressing how the United States' southern neighbor would fit in.
Comments