Trump warns of very long govt shutdown in absence of border wall funding

US President Donald Trump warned on Friday that a partial government shutdown would last "for a very long time" if the lawmakers do not approve money for his long-promised wall along the Mexico border.

The entire US government on Friday braced for an imminent shutdown because of the stalemate between the White House and the opposition Democrats on funding of the border wall.

The House of Representatives, where the Republicans currently enjoy a majority, has already passed such a bill.

But in the Senate the ruling Republican party needs additional eight votes from the Democrats to approve more than USD 5 billion for a wall across the US-Mexico border, which Trump argues is essential to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the US.

"The Democrats, whose votes we need in the Senate, will probably vote against Border Security and the Wall even though they know it is desperately needed. If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don't want Open Borders and Crime!" he said.

He said the Democrats would be responsible for such a shut down.

"The Democrats now own the shutdown!" Trump said in a tweet on Friday as