First lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpTrump privately blamed Black Americans for lacking initiative: report The Hill's 12:30 Report: Ginsburg lies in repose Melania Trump: Ginsburg's 'spirit will live on in all she has inspired' MORE and the president's youngest son are headed to Mar-a-Lago in Florida as President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE remains behind in Washington to deal with negotiations to avert a partial government shutdown.

Melania and Barron Trump departed Friday afternoon for the president's resort in West Palm Beach, a spokeswoman for the first lady's office said in a statement, but it was unclear when or if Trump himself would be joining the first family for the holidays.

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"It has long been the family's tradition to spend their Christmas holiday at Mar-a-Lago. Her plans to travel with her son to their Florida home for his winter break have not changed this year," Stephanie Grisham said.

Trump had previously planned a 16-day vacation over the Christmas holiday at his Florida resort, but the collapse of a deal this week to extend funding for roughly 25 percent of the federal government threw those plans into question.

The president Friday said he was prepared for a "very long" shutdown, raising the possibility of an extended battle with Congress over the Christmas holiday.

"I hope we don't, but we are totally prepared for a very long shutdown," the president told reporters at a bill signing on Friday, while adding that the chances of a shutdown are "probably very good."

During a meeting with congressional Democratic leaders last week, the president seemed to take responsibility for a potential shutdown over a dispute centered around funding for his plans for fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“I am proud to shut down the government for border security,” Trump said last week. “I will take the mantle. I will shut it down, I’m not going to blame you for it.”

But he shifted tone Friday, saying the Democrats were to blame.