'I'm very proud of what I'm doing', Trump says of partial US Gov't shutdown

United States (US) President Donald Trump says he is prepared to allow the partial government shutdown to continue for “years.”

Further, Trump sounded a warning yesterday that he could declare a national emergency in order to bypass Congress and build his long-proposed wall along the US-Mexico border.

He was speaking after a meeting with top Democrats at the White House failed to reach an agreement that would end the partial government shutdown, which is now entering its third week.

Trump has maintained that he will not sign any spending bill that does not include US$5 billion to fund the wall, which Democrats oppose.

Approximately 800,000 federal workers have not been paid since the partial shutdown took effect on December 22.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the talks with Trump as "contentious" while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer told reporters: "We told the president we needed the government open. He resisted.”

Initially, Trump gave a positive account of the meeting with top Democrats, describing it as "very productive".

However, his tone changed as he responded to questions from journalists about whether he had threatened to keep federal agencies closed for years if necessary.

"I did say that, absolutely I said that," Trump said.

"I don't think it will, but I am prepared. 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 the benefit and safety of our country," he added.

Asked whether he considered using emergency presidential powers to bypass congressional approval for the wall funding, Trump acknowledged that he had.

"I may do it. We can call a national emergency and build it very quickly. That's another way of doing it," he said.

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