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Trump stands by claim that Mexico will pay for wall | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President Donald Trump has insisted that Mexico will still pay for the border wall, claiming he never meant it would make a one-time payment. | US President Donald Trump has insisted that Mexico will still pay for the border wall, claiming he never meant it would make a one-time payment. |
"Obviously I never meant Mexico would write a cheque," Mr Trump said before travelling to McAllen, Texas. | "Obviously I never meant Mexico would write a cheque," Mr Trump said before travelling to McAllen, Texas. |
He says Mexico would "indirectly" fund the wall through a revamped trade deal, but a campaign memo shows he planned to compel the country to pay for the wall. | He says Mexico would "indirectly" fund the wall through a revamped trade deal, but a campaign memo shows he planned to compel the country to pay for the wall. |
A political row over Mr Trump's demand has triggered a US government shutdown. | A political row over Mr Trump's demand has triggered a US government shutdown. |
President Trump says he refuses to sign legislation to fund and reopen the government if it does not include $5.7bn (£4.5bn) for a physical barrier along the US-Mexico border. | President Trump says he refuses to sign legislation to fund and reopen the government if it does not include $5.7bn (£4.5bn) for a physical barrier along the US-Mexico border. |
But budget talks have come to a standstill as Democrats - who control the House of Representatives - refuse to give him the money. Republican leaders insist the party stands behind the president. | But budget talks have come to a standstill as Democrats - who control the House of Representatives - refuse to give him the money. Republican leaders insist the party stands behind the president. |
The funding lapse has dragged into the 20th day, with some 800,000 federal workers expected to miss their first pay cheque on Friday since the partial shutdown began. | The funding lapse has dragged into the 20th day, with some 800,000 federal workers expected to miss their first pay cheque on Friday since the partial shutdown began. |
Hundreds of federal workers, contractors and supporters rallied outside the White House on Thursday in protest against the shutdown. | Hundreds of federal workers, contractors and supporters rallied outside the White House on Thursday in protest against the shutdown. |
"During the campaign, I said Mexico would pay for it," Mr Trump told reporters on Thursday before travelling to a border patrol station in McAllen, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. | "During the campaign, I said Mexico would pay for it," Mr Trump told reporters on Thursday before travelling to a border patrol station in McAllen, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. |
"They are paying for it with the incredible deal we made, the USMCA [US Mexico Canada Agreement]," he said. | "They are paying for it with the incredible deal we made, the USMCA [US Mexico Canada Agreement]," he said. |
The deal, which has yet to be ratified by Congress, would replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). | The deal, which has yet to be ratified by Congress, would replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). |
Mexico will be "paying for the wall indirectly, many, many times over," Mr Trump argued, referring to the pending deal. | Mexico will be "paying for the wall indirectly, many, many times over," Mr Trump argued, referring to the pending deal. |
Critics say that any savings incurred due to the deal would go directly to private businesses rather than flow into US Treasury. | Critics say that any savings incurred due to the deal would go directly to private businesses rather than flow into US Treasury. |
"When I said Mexico would pay for the wall in front of thousands and thousands of people... obviously I never meant Mexico would write a cheque," he said. | "When I said Mexico would pay for the wall in front of thousands and thousands of people... obviously I never meant Mexico would write a cheque," he said. |
But an archived campaign memo from 2016 outlines how he planned to "compel Mexico to make a one-time payment" of $5-10bn (£4bn-£8bn) for the wall. | But an archived campaign memo from 2016 outlines how he planned to "compel Mexico to make a one-time payment" of $5-10bn (£4bn-£8bn) for the wall. |
The president also suggested on Thursday he would declare a national emergency, which would allow him to bypass Congress and open up defence department spending for the physical barrier - a move that would provoke a legal challenge. | The president also suggested on Thursday he would declare a national emergency, which would allow him to bypass Congress and open up defence department spending for the physical barrier - a move that would provoke a legal challenge. |
Shutdown negotiations failed on Wednesday when Mr Trump walked out of a meeting with Democratic leaders. | Shutdown negotiations failed on Wednesday when Mr Trump walked out of a meeting with Democratic leaders. |
The president called the meeting "a total waste of time" after top Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer refused to budge on agreeing to legislation that includes funding for a wall. | The president called the meeting "a total waste of time" after top Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer refused to budge on agreeing to legislation that includes funding for a wall. |
How is the shutdown progressing? | How is the shutdown progressing? |
Partial shutdowns occur when Congress cannot agree a budget by a certain deadline or the president refuses to sign it. | Partial shutdowns occur when Congress cannot agree a budget by a certain deadline or the president refuses to sign it. |
This shutdown, which began on 22 December, has closed 25% of the government. Of the 800,000 federal employees affected, about 350,000 are furloughed - a kind of temporary lay off - and the rest are working without pay. | This shutdown, which began on 22 December, has closed 25% of the government. Of the 800,000 federal employees affected, about 350,000 are furloughed - a kind of temporary lay off - and the rest are working without pay. |
The first pay day since the shutdown falls on Friday and will pass without workers getting salaries. | The first pay day since the shutdown falls on Friday and will pass without workers getting salaries. |
After past shutdowns, workers have generally been refunded with back pay, although that does not apply to those working for third-party contractors. The refunds are also not automatic - Congress must approve the measure. | After past shutdowns, workers have generally been refunded with back pay, although that does not apply to those working for third-party contractors. The refunds are also not automatic - Congress must approve the measure. |
Some affected federal workers who spoke to the BBC said they had resorted to a number of measures, including taking other jobs, racking up credit card bills, tapping into savings or taking on loans at high interest rates to pay their bills. | Some affected federal workers who spoke to the BBC said they had resorted to a number of measures, including taking other jobs, racking up credit card bills, tapping into savings or taking on loans at high interest rates to pay their bills. |
Thousands have also applied for unemployment benefits. | Thousands have also applied for unemployment benefits. |
The Office of Personnel Management, which oversees federal workers, has urged them to reach out to creditors and landlords for a deferral or reduction of payments. | The Office of Personnel Management, which oversees federal workers, has urged them to reach out to creditors and landlords for a deferral or reduction of payments. |
This weekend the shutdown will become the longest in US history. | This weekend the shutdown will become the longest in US history. |