Islam Times - ‘I'm not happy about it,’ Trump backtracks on shutdown pride

Islam Times - US President Donald Trump who had once said he would be “proud” to shut down the government for his border wall money, is suggesting that he is not going for another shutdown this time although he could not secure the funding he needs for border security.

The president said Tuesday that he does not “love” the deal reached between Democrats and Republicans at US Congress.

“I'm not happy about it. It's not doing the trick,” Trump said of the Monday agreement between congressional negotiators. "I don't think you are going to see a shutdown. I wouldn't want to go to it. If you did have it, it's the Democrats' fault.”

The White House was kept "aware and involved" during the negotiations, according to Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby, who struck the deal.

"I'm not worried about anything, you know. I'm too old to worry. We'll see what happens," Shelby said. Asked if he's received an assurance from Trump that the president will sign the bill, he replied: "No. I don't have any assurance he's going to veto it either."

Shelby and Texas Republican Representative Kay Granger took part in closed-door negotiations with New York Democratic Representative Nita Lowey and Vermont Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy.

“It’s a compromise, which means everybody is unhappy,” said Texas GOP Senator John Cornyn.

Funding for the wall has led to a budget impasse and an ongoing dispute over border security.

Trump finally agreed on January 25 to end the shutdown without getting the $5.7 billion he had demanded for the wall, and instead, a three-week spending deal was reached to temporarily end the impasse.