Speaking to the news outlet at the White House on Tuesday, Trump
also said the $5 billion request was just to build the physical
barrier, and that additional funding would be needed for border
security.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump in a separate interview with the
Washington Post hinted that he could avoid a government shutdown
and still build his wall by utilizing the U.S. military, which
he had deployed to the U.S-Mexico border last month to install
barbed wire and fencing.
U.S. lawmakers must act to pass a spending bill by Dec. 7 to
fund some government agencies, including the Department of
Homeland Security that oversees the border and immigration.
Trump has previously threatened to shut down the U.S. government
over the border wall funding but has not followed through.
His comments to Politico and the Post came amid a White House
meeting on Tuesday with House Republicans, who control the
chamber until Democrats take over in January. Trump's fellow
Republicans also control the Senate and will maintain their hold
next year.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and
Chizu Nomiyama)
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