Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFEC flags McConnell campaign over suspected accounting errors Poll: 59 percent think president elected in November should name next Supreme Court justice Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE (R-Ky.) on Tuesday warned that the American people don’t want to see a partial government shutdown and expressed hope it could be avoided hours after 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 in a meeting with Democratic leaders said he was willing to shut down the government for tougher border security.



“I hope that’s not where we end up. I understand it was a rather spirited meeting,” McConnell told reporters when asked by reporters about Trump’s threat.

McConnell later warned that forcing a shutdown would be a political mistake for either side in the battle over funding for a wall on Mexico's border.



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“One thing I think is pretty clear no matter who precipitates the government shutdown is, the American people don’t like it,” he said.

“I hope that will be avoided and both sides understand that’s not a great way to end what has, in my view, been the most successful Congress, right of center, in decades.”



McConnell saw his party take a political hit in 2013 when House conservatives provoked a 16-day government shutdown by insisting on legislation blocking the implementation of ObamaCare.

Democrats appeared to take the political hit last year after the government briefly closed over Democratic demands for protections for "Dreamers," young people who came to the country illegally as children but were given the ability to stay through executive action by the Obama administration. Trump withdrew those actions.

Congress still has to finish seven appropriations bills this year that fund about 25 percent of the federal government’s discretionary budget.



Government funding for several departments and agencies will expire after Dec. 21.

Trump told Senate Democratic 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 (N.Y.) and House Democratic 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 (Calif.), who were both at the White House Tuesday morning, that he would accept the blame for a shutdown over border security.

“I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it,” he said.