BORDER/GOP/GOVERNMENT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WALL: “Rattled by accusations he was caving on his promised border wall, President Donald Trump instead bowed to a conservative backlash. After signaling earlier in the week that he was backing off a government shutdown threat, Trump rapidly changed course on Thursday [12-20-18], informing House Republican leaders that he would not sign a short-term funding measure because it did not include money for a southern border wall. His second reversal in a matter of days — with time left to pivot yet again — came after conservative allies and pundits savaged him for waffling on a central campaign promise. Trump’s allies had fanned out in discontent, venting on television and social media, and urging the president to veto the funding bill unless it contains more money for the wall…Aware that his supporters wanted to see a fight, Trump — shaken by the criticism and lashing out at aides — decided to give them one. He issued threatening tweets and a stern statement from his press secretary and then called GOP lawmakers to the White House, where he told them he wasn’t on board with the Senate-approved temporary measure, which keeps government open until Feb. 8 and does not include wall funding.”
–Associated Press, “Trump Bows to Conservative Backlash Over Border Wall Funding,” The New York Times online, December 19, 2018