US President Donald Trump has urged Republican Senator Mitch McConnell to fight harder in the Senate to secure funding for the border wall with Mexico, using the example of the Republican efforts in the House of Representatives on 20 December. He reminded him that Democrats are crucial for the Senate vote, as Trump requires 60 votes to pass the bill, while the Republicans only hold 51 seats in the upper chamber.
Senator Mitch McConnell should fight for the Wall and Border Security as hard as he fought for anything. He will need Democrat votes, but as shown in the House, good things happen. If enough Dems don’t vote, it will be a Democrat Shutdown! House Republicans were great yesterday!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
READ MORE: US House Lawmakers Adopt Spending Bill Including $5Bln for Trump's Border Wall
The US president also urged Mitch McConnell to use a so-called "nuclear option" to override the 60-vote requirement and pass the funding bill with a simple 51-vote majority. Trump also thanked US Republican Senator Steve Daines for expressing willingness to resort to the nuclear option, if debates with Democrats don't lead to a positive outcome.
Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
Trump also rejected claims that the concept of a wall had become outdated, arguing that it's the only thing that can protect the US. He noted that just as in case of the wheel, humanity hasn't come up with anything better than a wall for protection.
The Democrats are trying to belittle the concept of a Wall, calling it old fashioned. The fact is there is nothing else’s that will work, and that has been true for thousands of years. It’s like the wheel, there is nothing better. I know tech better than anyone, & technology…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
READ MORE: US Government Shutdown Likely as Trump Fights for Border Wall Funding
The US president accused Democrats of spreading lies about the border wall's effectiveness, bringing up the wall used by Israel to protect itself as an example of how effective they can be. He argued that his border wall would work as well as the Israeli one, adding that it would also save the US billions of dollars.
…..on a Border is only effective in conjunction with a Wall. Properly designed and built Walls work, and the Democrats are lying when they say they don’t. In Israel the Wall is 99.9% successful. Will not be any different on our Southern Border! Hundreds of $Billions saved!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
Trump predicted that just like in the House of Representatives, the Senate Democrats wouldn't vote for strengthening border security and the construction of the wall. He threatened them with an imminent and long-time government shutdown if this were to be the case.
The Democrats, whose votes we need in the Senate, will probably vote against Border Security and the Wall even though they know it is DESPERATELY NEEDED. If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don’t want Open Borders and Crime!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
Shutdown today if Democrats do not vote for Border Security!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018
President Donald Trump has been struggling with Senate Democrats for weeks in a bid to deliver on one of his major election promises — to build a wall on the border with Mexico to stop illegal migrants from entering the US. The bill requires 60 votes to pass, while Republicans control only 51 seats in the Senate, making cooperation from some of the Democrats a must for the bill to pass.
READ MORE: Trump: Military to Build Wall on Mexico Border if Dems Don't Vote to Secure US
Trump threatened the Democrats with government shutdown if they don't approve funding for the wall. They tried to avert such scenario by voting for a two-week stopgap spending bill, but Trump refused to sign it on 21 December, ruining Democrat efforts to avert a shutdown.
