My guess is that this was the plan all along—to bring it to the point of the government “closing down” or Trump funding it from the military. Certainly he both threatened a shutdown and said he’d fund it legally otherwise at the famous meeting with Chuck and Nancy.
I don’t really see how saying, “No matter, I’ll fund it out of the already funded military instead” is backing down. If anything it is moving the battle to the courts instead.
My guess is POTUS was expecting of his own party to support the GOP party platform. Then they made it clear he was flying solo on the shut down and now Trump kicks the can down the road again. Not good enough.
Surrendering this battle without firing a shot will be his Waterloo. It will depress grassroots support for him and he will never recover. Read my lips...
No—he is going to fund the wall from the military.
That is super fine with his base.
(But the way Drudge headlined it, most people, including those posting here, aren’t getting that.)
Right when Robbie is about to slam him with special council shit, Trump makes the worst decision of his presidency, even worse than Sessions. All over a lousy 5 billion that is chicken-scratch to congress.