Trump invites lawmakers for meeting amid shutdown

President Donald Trump has invited congressional leaders to a White House briefing on border security on Wednesday, amid a government shutdown and political impasse over immigration and federal funding.

Details of the meeting’s agenda and a full list of participants were not immediately clear late on Tuesday.

This would mark the first time Trump has met with Democratic and Republican leaders since the shutdown started December 22.

The president had said earlier on Tuesday that he is “ready, willing and able” to negotiate an end to the partial government shutdown that stretched into its 11th day and a new calendar year on 1 January, but insists any agreement include funding for “a good old-fashioned wall” on the US-Mexico border.

Democrats take control of the House on Thursday and have already signalled that they will vote that day on two bills to try and re-open the government without providing the $5 billion for the border wall that Trump has requested.

Trump tweeted Tuesday afternoon about the possibility of making a deal with incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi replied on Twitter Tuesday afternoon, saying that the president has “given Democrats a great opportunity to show how we will govern responsibly & quickly pass our plan to end the irresponsible [shutdown]....”

MSNBC correspondent Garrett Haake reported that some Democrats are wary that the Wednesday meeting is more of a stunt than real negotiation.

Congress has so far failed to break an impasse over the barrier’s funding, and no votes are scheduled yet. Democrats will take the House majority on Thursday, January 3.

Parts of the government have been shut down for 11 days. Lawmakers will get 24 hours notice before any vote on a deal to end the shutdown.

The Democrats earlier on Monday had unveiled details of the bills they plan to introduce on Thursday.

It will include one bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security at current levels through 8 February, with $1.3bn for border security, such as fencing and other services – but not a wall. Trump has demanded $5bn and insists the wall be included.