No retreat, no surrender is how President Donald Trump frames his decision to temporarily reopen the government while still pursuing a border wall deal.
Some of his conservative backers have a different take: "pathetic" and "wimp."
After he announced his decision, a New York newspaper headline dubbed him "CAVE MAN."
"Will not be easy to make a deal, both parties very dug in. The case for National Security has been greatly enhanced by what has been happening at the Border & through dialogue. We will build the Wall!"
Earlier, Trump tweeted: "This was in no way a concession. It was taking care of millions of people who were getting badly hurt by the Shutdown with the understanding that in 21 days, if no deal is done, it's off to the races!"
At the time, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., cheered Trump for digging in his heels, saying that the time to fight the fight for a wall had arrived. This time, Meadows backed the president's decision and warned: "Executive action is still very much under consideration."
But California-based conservative leader Mark Meckler, who helped found the tea party movement, called the president's decision to sign off on a deal without wall funding "pathetic and disgusting."
At the request of the White House, he said they made repeated media appearances, but they got no warning he was about to "surrender."
"Certainly, he did not fulfill his promise to the base and I'm appalled. More importantly than me is what I'm hearing from the grassroots. They're appalled."
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