MSNBC on-air has just reported that Speaker Paul Ryan is late for his final press conference, and has been pulled out of a meeting with House Republicans by an “emergency” phone call from President Trump.
Reportedly, Trump is feeling the heat after not getting funding for his border wall in the continuing resolution that keeps the federal government operating through early February.
The Senate managed to pass a bill to avert a shutdown, and the House is slated to vote on it today. Trump was expected to sign the legislation, keeping the government open and not forcing federal employees to be furloughed or work over the holidays without being paid.
Here’s what was happening before President Trump called Speaker Ryan:
Now, that could be in jeopardy.
House Republicans are now slated to have a second meeting later today on the CR.
In a meeting with Democratic Leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer last week, Trump infamously promised a shutdown. He even bragged he’d be happy to take blame for it, unless he got his $5 billion in border wall funding.
No one except his base wants the wall.
Right wing extremists, from Ann Coulter to Rush Limbaugh and others are scorching the president for what they see as him rolling over and agreeing to sign the continuing resolution (“CR”) that keeps the government running.
UPDATE: 10:33 AM ET –
Trump posts vaguely threatening tweet, with another presumably on the way:
UPDATE II: 10:35 AM ET –
NY Times’ reporter with close WH sources:
And MSNBC and C-SPAN have just announced Speaker Ryan has now canceled his press conference.
Developing…
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