Washington (CNN) On Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump began laying the groundwork to back away from his much-publicized threat to close down the US southern border unless Mexico and other central American countries did more to limit the flow of migrants to our country.

Mexico has "started apprehending more people" said Trump, although he offered no specific data on that point. "The border's going to be closed 100%," Trump then said before immediately adding: "Or we're going to close large sections of the border. Maybe not all of it."

The seeming walk-back -- or at least the first step in a walk-back -- comes after Trump's initial pledge, made via Twitter , natch -- set off rank panic among his advisers, many of whom were caught off-guard by the President's tweet.

"Trump is being privately advised by multiple people inside and outside the White House that closing the border is a bad idea. Advisers told him it's not a sustainable option, underscored how it would disrupt the economy and noted it would anger local border officials throughout the country. Trump sees it a different way -- and thinks the move could save the US money."

Read More