U.S. President issues ultimatum on government shutdown

U.S. President Donald Trump would accept a stopgap spending bill to reopen the government but only if it contains a “down payment” for his long-desired border wall, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said.

Trump said he would consider legislation with a "prorated down payment for the wall" but did not specify a dollar amount.

"If they come to a reasonable agreement I would support it, yes," the Hill cited as saying.

The comments, which came shortly after the Senate rejected two separate funding bills, represent a possible shift for Trump, who has demanded $5.7 billion for the wall in exchange for ending the partial government shutdown, which has stretched into its 34th day.

The president also hinted that he could take executive action to jump start wall construction if he does not receive funding in Congress, saying "I have other alternatives if I have to, and I’d use those alternatives if I have to, but we want to go through the system. We have to have a wall in this situation."