President Donald Trump is "standing firm" on his demands for border funding and Republicans should "stand strong" with him, Vice President Mike Pence told House Republicans during a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill ahead of the president's prime-time speech Tuesday, The Hill reports.
"The president is full steam ahead on this. Not that he isn't willing to negotiate, but he is standing firm," Pence said alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, and acting Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought.
The partial government shutdown reached its 18th day with no end in sight as Trump will not budge on his demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats have not shifted from their opposition, leaving about 800,000 government workers furloughed.
Trump has discussed the idea of declaring a national emergency to allow him to move forward with the wall, but he is still said to be mulling it over, according to CNN.
Pence at the closed-door meeting said the president is open to negotiating with Democrats but will not retreat.
"That pickup ain't got reverse in it," Pence said per The Associated Press.
The government closure is the second longest in U.S. history.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.