Trump says government shutdown not likely
before November election
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[September 07, 2018]
BILLINGS, Mont. (Reuters) -
President Donald Trump said on Thursday a possible shutdown of the U.S.
government over border wall funding "most likely" would not happen until
after the November congressional elections.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he had been persuaded that
closing the government would hurt his fellow Republican candidates.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to shut down the government when funding
runs out on Sept. 30 if the U.S. Congress does not include enough money
for a wall on the border with Mexico.
He walked back that threat in the interview, which was conducted prior
to a Montana rally and will be broadcast on Friday.
"Most likely I will not do that. But we are going to do it immediately
after the election," Trump said.
"If it were up to me I would shut down the government over border
security," he said. "But I don't want to do anything that is going to
hurt us or potentially hurt us because I've got a feeling that
Republicans are going to do really well in the midterms."
Republican control of the House of Representatives and Senate is at
stake in the Nov. 6 elections, which are seen as a referendum on Trump.
He campaigned heavily on a promise to build a wall that would be paid
for by Mexico, which it has refused to do. Trump has subsequently turned
to Congress to seek $25 billion for the project, along with other
immigration demands.
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![](../images/090718pics/news_r33.jpg)
President Donald Trump greets the crowd as he arrives for his "Make
America Great Again" rally in Billings, Montana U.S., September 6,
2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
![](../images/ads/current/richardson_lda_PREMIUM_081018.png)
Trump and U.S. lawmakers averted a government shutdown in March
after passing a massive $1.3 trillion spending bill to fund the
government through Sept. 30.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2018/Sep/07/images/ads/current/charrons_bch041713.png)
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by
Sandra Maler)
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