President Trump Warns That Government Shutdown Could Last 'Years'

President Donald Trump held an impromptu press conference in the Rose Garden following a two-hour meeting with congressional leaders. The Democrats passed a series of funding bills in the House to re-open the government but Trump has remained firm on his promise not to sign any legislation to end the government shutdown unless they contain at least five billion dollars to begin construction on a wall between the border of the United States and Mexico. 

Trump said that the meeting was "productive" and that Vice President Mike Pence will continue to lead the negotiations over the weekend.

"This is national security we’re talking about, we’re not talking about games," he told reporters. “We're not playing games, we have to do it."

Trump said that he is "proud" of shutting the government down to fight for the "benefit and for the safety of our country."

"Well, you know, I appreciate the way you say that but once -- I'm very proud of doing what I'm doing. I don't call it a shutdown. I call it doing what you have to do for benefit and for the safety of our country. ...So can you call it whatever you want. You can call it the Schumer or the Pelosi or the Trump shutdown, it doesn't make any difference to me. Just words."

The Democrats appear unwilling to give Trump the money he is requesting and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told members of the press that the president suggested that he was willing to let the government remain "closed for a very long period of time, months or even years.”

If Trump is unable to secure a deal with the Democrats to build the wall, he told a reporter that he would consider declaring a national emergency to sidestep Congress and get the wall built.

"We can call a national emergency. I haven't done it. I may do it. I may do it," Trump said. "We can call a national emergency and build it very quickly. It's another way of doing it."

Photo: Getty Images