US President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday he expects to agree to a two-week extension of funding ahead of a Dec. 7 deadline to fully fund the US government because of former President George H.W. Bush's death. The prospects of a partial government shutdown have been looming in recent days after Trump last week renewed his demand for significant US taxpayer funding of his proposed US-Mexico border wall.
Trump said on Saturday congressional leaders have sought the short-term extension and he said he would "absolutely consider it and probably give it." Bush died on Friday. His funeral is set for Wednesday in Washington, leaving almost no time to reach a deal ahead of the deadline, congressional aides said Saturday before Trump's remarks.
This week, Trump told Politico he would "totally be willing" to shut down the federal government unless Congress authorized $5 billion to fund his long-promised wall along the US border with Mexico.