Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told President Trump to give Democrats one more chance to strike a deal on the border wall and then declare a national emergency if unsuccessful.
“Mr. President, if Democrats come to you in the Senate and say that ‘we would like to work with you for a few weeks to see if we could solve this problem,’ give them a chance,” Graham told Fox News Tuesday night. “And if they don’t deliver, do it by yourself.”
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Graham told Fox News host Sean Hannity that although executive action to end the government shutdown and fund the border wall is the “last resort,” it could be necessary.
The partial government shutdown, which began Dec. 22, is now well into its fourth week, making this the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
“Mr. President, if you are watching this show, I think there are Democrats that would work with you, that we could get a deal within the Senate,” Graham said. “If Democrats in the Senate will work with you, give them a chance, a couple of weeks. If it doesn’t work, do it yourself. But give it one last shot.”
Trump says that he will not sign a bill to fund the federal agencies that ran out of funding Dec. 21 at midnight unless it includes money allocated for the border wall. Democrats have said they would not pass a bill that included any money for a physical barrier at the southern border.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said that $1 is the most she would give for the wall.
