BORDER/DEMS/GOVERNMENT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE/WALL: “President Donald Trump walked out of discussions to end a partial government shutdown, now in its third week, calling the talks with congressional Democrats “a total waste of time’…Trump was in a chummy mood when he entered the Situation Room, according to a source familiar with how things unfolded. The President passed out candy to attendees — Butterfinger and Baby Ruth bars as well as M&M’s. Trump told congressional leaders they would find a letter at each of their chairs — a copy of the budget request the Office of Management and Budget had put together for congressional staff in Sunday’s meeting that laid out the administration’s shutdown priorities. Then, with the letters stating their position in front of them, White House officials asked Democrats where their position stood. Pelosi informed the President she was concerned about ports of entry, something which he agreed with. Trump said there was money allotted in the administration’s priority list that beefed up the ports of entry. But Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, also seated at the table, interjected to say that even if the ports of entry eliminated all drug smuggling, smugglers would find another way in, which is why the barrier structure is important, sparking the most heated exchange of the meeting between Pelosi and Trump.”
–Kaitlan Collins, Phil Mattingly, Eli Watkins and Manu Raju, “Trump walks out of shutdown meeting, calling talks ‘total waste of time’,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, January 9, 2019 2:58 am