President Trump speaks in White House Rose Garden following meeting with congressional leaders: "We had a productive meeting today. ... We're all on the same path as far as wanting to get the government open. ... We'll be meeting over the weekend." #shutdown
"The southern border is a dangerous, horrible disaster. We've done a great job, but you can't really do the kind of job we have to do unless you have a major, powerful barrier," Trump says, before introducing Vice President Mike Pence, who will speak next.
Pence describes the meeting with congressional leaders as "constructive and substantive." Adding, "We enter this weekend and these discussions hopeful. Not simply that we will end a budget shutdown, but we will make, finally, meaningful progress on securing our southern border."
Answering questions from the press, President Trump said the shutdown won't end until the problem of the wall and border security is solved: "We think this is a much bigger problem ... it's a problem of national security."
When asked about how Mexico will pay for the wall, Trump says the price of the wall is "peanuts" compared to the "billions and billions of dollars" from the trade deal with Mexico.
See the full video of President Trump speaking in the Rose Garden here:
