President Donald Trump's statement comes a day after he tweeted that he would shut down the government "if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall!" Trump: 'I would have no problem doing a shutdown'

President Donald Trump doubled down Monday on his claim that he would shut down the government this fall if the funding he wants for border security is not approved by Congress.

"As far as the border is concerned, and personally, if we don't get border security, after many, many years of talk within the United States, I would have no problem doing a shutdown," Trump said during a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, adding that the two are "united in our conviction that strong nations must have strong borders."


Trump's statement comes a day after he tweeted that he would shut down the government "if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall!"

Currently, government funding is set to run out just 37 days before Nov. 6, the day of the midterm elections. Republicans control both the Senate and House, along with the presidency, but Trump and lawmakers have put the blame on Democrats for not passing immigration reform.

Trump said that his administration is "working hard to pass border security legislation, improve vetting, and establish a merit-based immigration system."

"It's time we had proper border security. We're the laughing stock of the world. We have the worst immigration laws anywhere in the world," Trump said.

The president later said he would be willing to "leave room for negotiation" in terms of his immigration demand. He added that $25 billion for a wall is not a "red line" for him.

But last month, Trump expressed frustration in a private meeting with senators and his staff that he was not getting $25 billion in full for a border wall. The Senate is planning to send Trump $1.6 billion this fall for the border wall.

"I have no red line, unlike President Obama," Trump said Monday, referring to comments Obama made in 2012 about chemical weapons use in Syria. "I just want great border security."

