Trump signs bill to reopen government for three weeks

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump signed a short-term agreement to reopen the federal government for three weeks. He is not giving up on the wall, however, and hints that the government could be shut down again by mid-February.

The Senate quickly and unanimously approved the government funding agreement after Trump, under increasing pressure, agreed to end the shutdown, although his condition of securing $5.7 billion for the construction of a wall on the border with Mexico was not met.

 

I wish people would read or listen to my words on the Border Wall. This was in no way a concession. It was taking care of millions of people who were getting badly hurt by the Shutdown with the understanding that in 21 days, if no deal is done, it’s off to the races!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2019

 

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, signed the bills to reopen the government.

The more than month-long shutdown affected about 800,000 federal employees who had to work without pay or were sent on forced leave.

Although analysts interpret this as Trump's defeat and a victory for the Democrats, the US president reiterates that he is not giving up on building the wall with Mexico.

"We really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or a steel barrier. If we don't get a fair offer from Congress, the government will either be shut down again on February 15, or I will use the powers vested in me by the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency. We will secure the country," Trump said.

"This was in no way a concession. It was taking care of millions of people who were getting badly hurt by this situation," President Trump wrote on Twitter, adding that he wished people would read or listen to his words regarding the wall.

Democrats maintain that the wall is not needed and that President Trump should not punish federal employees for his campaign promises.