WASHINGTON; Donald Trump and congressional Democrats stood at stark odds on Thursday as the president balked at a spending stopgap that contains no border wall funding, leaving the US government on the precipice of a Christmastime shutdown.

The unpredictable leader’s rejection of a measure that unanimously passed the Senate and was under consideration in the House plunged Washington into political chaos barely 24 hours before a midnight Friday deadline that sees funding expire for key agencies.

Trump appeared to harden his demand for $5 billion in funding for the wall on the US-Mexico border, something he has fought for since he began campaigning for president in 2015.

Republican leaders had planned to pass a so-called continuing resolution (CR) that would fully fund government until Feb 8, to allow time for debate about issues including border security.

But with ultra-conservative lawmakers and media personalities effectively demanding that the president stick to his campaign promises, Trump doubled down.

“I’ve made my position very clear. Any measure that funds the government has to include border security,” he said at a White House event.

“Walls work, whether we like it or not,” he added. “They work better than anything.” Democrats have refused to budge, saying they will not support a spending measure that funds Trump’s wall.

“That’s a non-starter,” said top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi. “I think they know that.” Republicans nevertheless soldiered on, crafting a new measure that would appease the president’s demands. It includes $5.7 billion in border wall funding, and $7.8 billion in disaster relief.

The bill passed the House with no Democratic support. It will be dead on arrival in the 100-member Senate, where bills need 60 votes to advance and Republicans control 51 seats.

Senate Democrats were united in opposition as the likely Friday showdown in that chamber loomed. Many senators from both parties have already left Washington for the holidays.

“President Trump is plunging the country into chaos,” warned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “The bottom line is simple,” he added. “The Trump temper tantrum may produce a government shutdown. It will not get him his wall.”

Fears of a shutdown — which could send thousands of federal employees home without pay just before Christmas — helped send US stocks tumbling, with the Dow closing down 2.0 per cent.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2018