Sanders hints Trump may not force government shutdown over border wall

Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The White House signaled Tuesday there's a possibility it will not force the government to shut down over President Donald Trump's proposed border wall.

Trump's press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that Trump has several options to get the $5 billion he wants for the wall without forcing some portions of the government out of business temporarily.

"We have other ways that we can get to that $5 billion that we'll work with Congress if they will make sure that we get a bill passed that provides not just the funding for the wall, but there is a piece of legislation that has been pushed around ... that provides roughly $26 billion in border security including $1.6 billion for the wall," Sanders said on Fox News.

"There is certainly a number of different funding sources that we've identified that we can use that we can couple with the money that would be given through congressional appropriations to help us get to the $5 billion the president needs in order to protect our border," Sanders added.

Last week, Trump faced down House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in a tense sit-down in front of national cameras at the White House, telling them he would be "proud" to shut down the government if he did not get funding for the wall.

"I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck," Trump said in the meeting. "People in this country don't want criminals and people that have lots of problems and drugs pouring into our country. I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I won't blame you for it. The last time, you shut it down. It didn't work. I will take the mantle of shutting it down."

The wall along the U.S. southern land border with Mexico was among the earliest campaign promises from Trump, one that won loud cheers during campaign rallies during which he claimed Mexico would pay for structure.

There has been little talk of Mexico paying for the wall recently after Mexican officials have repeatedly said that they have no interest in paying for the border wall. Instead, Trump has cited national security concerns in building the wall to help stem undocumented immigration along the southern border.