• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind

2

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

3

Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar

1

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind

2

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

3

Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
government shutdown

Trump Spars With Schumer and Pelosi, Says He Would Be ‘Proud’ to Shut Down Government Over Border Security

By
Laura Stampler/TIME
Laura Stampler/TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Laura Stampler/TIME
Laura Stampler/TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 11, 2018, 3:43 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

President Donald Trump told Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi that he would be “proud to shut down the government for border security” in a nationally televised meeting Tuesday.

Congress is facing a pre-holiday, partial government shutdown on December 21 at 11:59 p.m., an act that Trump previously told Politico that he’d be “totally willing to do” if Congress didn’t provide $5 billion in funding to build his long-promised border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. According to CQ Roll Call, Trump preferred a “back-and-forth” dialogue with Senate Minority Chuck Schumer and presumed House Majority Leader Pelosi rather that delivering his demands.

But the conversation, which CNN notes was supposed to be closed before Trump invited in press, quickly became heated when it became clear that Democrats did not plan to provide wall funding that went beyond $1.6 billion that had been previously negotiated on in a bipartisan agreement.

“If we don’t get what we want, one way or the other, whether it’s through you, through military, through anything you want to call, I will shut down the government,” Trump said, indicating that he could send the armed forces to build the wall if Democrats failed to provide votes that would offer funding. “I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down.”

Trump’s ownership of the looming shutdown was one of the few things Democrat leadership agreed upon in the meeting, a fact that was made particularly clear when Pelosi told the president that the American people believed they “should not have a Trump shutdown.”

The president, however, was less enthused by this designation (#TrumpShutdown is currently trending on Twitter), retorting, “A what? Did you say Trump?”

President Trump argues with Nancy Pelosi over government funding and potential shutdown.

Pelosi: "I think the American people recognize that we must keep government open … that we should not have a Trump shutdown."

Trump: "A what? Did you say Trump?" https://t.co/nTeGObvgKi pic.twitter.com/v8FbbPEyKR

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) December 11, 2018

“This has spiraled downward,” Pelosi said when the leadership argued over whether Trump could secure funding for the wall without Democratic votes in the Democratically led House and Senate, which has a Republican majority, although would need bipartisan support to reach the required 60 votes.

While Pence was also present at the meeting, his noticeable silence has provided for internet fodder.

https://twitter.com/annehelen/status/1072544990650355712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1072544990650355712&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fblogs%2Fblog-briefing-room%2Fnews%2F420811-pences-potted-plant-approach-to-trumps-heated-spat-with-dems

Slow pan on Pence as "Curb Your Enthusiasm" music plays pic.twitter.com/id9X4xXrKp

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 11, 2018

Funny how Pence was in that meeting, but you wouldn’t notice. He was like an embarrassed little kid dressed as a Christmas tree, in a 2nd grade holiday play, with no lines.

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) December 11, 2018

Although White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement describing the meeting as a “constructive dialogue” in spite of disagreement over the border, the White House later tweeted that Democrats were standing in the way of border security.

Democrats have made it clear that they would rather keep the U.S. border open to illegal immigrants than keep the government open to serve American citizens.

Enough is enough. It's time to make a deal for real border security.

— The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) December 11, 2018

Democrats continued the sparring after the meeting as well.

Said Schumer outside the White House, “This Trump shutdown, this temper tantrum that he seems to throw, will not get him his wall and will hurt a lot of people.”

About the Author
By Laura Stampler/TIME
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in

s
BankingElections
California Republican’s awkward pitch: vote for me even if you hate Trump
By MIchael R. Blood and The Associated PressJuly 23, 2026
54 minutes ago
Alphabet’s SpaceX stake fuels a $98 billion gain, beating estimates
Big TechMarkets
Alphabet’s SpaceX stake fuels a $98 billion gain, beating estimates
By Barbara Ortutay and The Associated PressJuly 23, 2026
57 minutes ago
bieber
Arts & EntertainmentStreaming
Justin Bieber’s World Cup halftime song streams jumped 110%
By Maria Sherman and The Associated PressJuly 23, 2026
1 hour ago
z
EconomyElections
Democrats decide 2026 midterm elections are the perfect time for a civil war pitting socialists against moderates
By Jill Colvin and The Associated PressJuly 23, 2026
1 hour ago
police tape
North AmericaCrime
American homicides on track for lowest level in more than a century: ‘one of the most significant public safety developments in decades’
By Nick Lichtenberg, Safiyah Riddle and The Associated PressJuly 23, 2026
1 hour ago
house
PoliticsCongress
The Republican-controlled House just passed a stock trading bill — that exempts Trump’s 3,600 Q1 trades
By Joey Cappelletti and The Associated PressJuly 23, 2026
1 hour ago

Most Popular

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
Real Estate
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
1 day ago
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
Success
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
3 days ago
Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
Economy
Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 22, 2026
23 hours ago
'The man who dies rich dies disgraced': The last time America had such wealth inequality, Andrew Carnegie knew he had to give it all away
Success
'The man who dies rich dies disgraced': The last time America had such wealth inequality, Andrew Carnegie knew he had to give it all away
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
1 day ago
Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
AI
Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
By Eva RoytburgJuly 21, 2026
2 days ago
Despite a $156 million contract, Knicks star Jalen Brunson still calls his parents for financial advice any time he makes a big purchase
Success
Despite a $156 million contract, Knicks star Jalen Brunson still calls his parents for financial advice any time he makes a big purchase
By Emma BurleighJuly 21, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.