Congress, White House talking, but no quick end to shutdown

Congress gavelled open for a rare Saturday session days before Christmas as America's elected leaders partially shut down the government, unable to find a compromise over money for President Donald Trump's promised wall along the US-Mexico border.

Trump is demanding USD 5 billion, but congressional Democrats are refusing to accede in a stalemate that provides a chaotic coda for Republicans in the waning days of their two-year reign controlling government.

The president jettisoned his Florida holiday getaway to Mar-a-Lago, tweeting, "I am in the White House, working hard." Trump was hosting a lunch with conservative lawmakers, including House Freedom Caucus chiefs Mark Meadows of North Carolina and Jim Jordan of Ohio, and several senators, among them Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Absent from the guest list were GOP leaders or any Democrats.

The president also acknowledged in a tweet it could be "a long stay." Talks continued between Democrats and the White House.

For the second day in a row, Vice President Mike Pence shuttled over to the Capitol to work on a deal. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York met with Pence at the request of the White House, according to Schumer's office.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he hoped an agreement could be reached "sooner rather than later." McConnell said any deal to reopen government would require Democratic support for passage and the president's signature.

"That's what's needed." Schumer said the shutdown could end immediately if Trump simply dropped his demand for money that was the centerpiece of his presidential campaign. Trump had pledged that Mexico would pay for the wall; Mexico has refused.

"If you want to open the government, you must abandon the wall," Schumer said.

But Trump, digging in, tweeted about "the crisis of illegal activity" at American's southern border is "real and will not stop until we build a great Steel Barrier or Wall."