Sen. John Kennedy John Neely KennedyMORE (R-Louisiana) declared on Wednesday that 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 is "serious as four heart attacks and a stroke" on his promise to shut down the government if his demands for border wall funding are not met.



Trump threatened a government shutdown if he did not get the funding he wants for border security during a combative meeting with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday that was televised live.

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"Looks to me like he’s serious as four heart attacks and a stroke," Kennedy told reporters on Capitol Hill. "He’s not bluffing. If I were playing poker with him and I didn’t have the cards, I’d fold. He’s not bluffing."



"On the other hand, even if he makes concessions, Mrs. Pelosi won’t budge," Kennedy also noted. "She wants to be speaker again."



The perspective from Kennedy comes as GOP House leaders are weighing bringing short-term, stopgap funding legislation to the floor that would allocate the $5 billion Trump is requesting for a wall at the U.S. southern border.

The legislation potentially could fund the remaining unfunded federal agencies until at least January.

It is not clear if Republicans have the 218 votes needed for passage despite Trump telling Pelosi on Tuesday that he had the votes.

The prospect of passage in the Senate would also be uncertain.



The border wall and border security was a signature promise made by Trump to his supporters during the 2016 presidential campaign.