President Donald Trump is reportedly spending his government shutdown calling his right-wing pals to promise he won’t give up on the border wall.

The president initially had a budget deal until it was revealed the bills wouldn’t provide funding for the wall. The Senate passed the bill with a promise from Vice President Mike Pence that Trump would sign it. Senators left town for the holidays as the bill went to the House for their vote.

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That’s when the right-wing attacked. Conservative talk-radio hosts and Fox News pundits unleashed a verbal assault and Trump was forced to backtrack on the budget pledge. The government was forced to shut down soon after.

Now, Trump is sitting in his presidential cave with cable news blaring. Next to him is his line to the outside world, according to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman.

“Trump is repeatedly calling allies such as members of Congress and conservative radio hosts, telling them privately that he will not give in on his demand for funding for a border wall,” Haberman reported Sunday.

She also noted in her piece that the president campaigned on his keen ability to “cut deals,” but nine days later, he is struggling as his skills are put to the test.

Former Congressman Joe Walsh told Fox News in 2017 that Trump won’t get reelected without the wall. It has forced Trump between a wall and a hard place, as he struggles to make a deal while running on a campaign slogan of “Promises Kept.”

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In a press statement Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) appeared to be leading Trump to capitulation by saying that the wall was nothing more than a metaphor.

Read Haberman’s full report at the New York Times.