President Trump on Friday taunted Democrats over border wall funds, saying they should return to Washington to approve a physical barrier along the border with Mexico and give themselves the satisfaction of calling it what they want.

"This is where I ask the Democrats to come back to Washington and to vote for money for the wall, the barrier, whatever you want to call it is OK with me. They can name it whatever they [want]. Name it peaches," Trump said during a border security roundtable at the White House.

"I don't care what they name it, but we need money for the wall, the barrier," Trump said.

Trump spoke on the same day that about 800,000 federal workers missed a paycheck due to an ongoing partial government shutdown over wall funds.

"The Republicans have been rock solid," Trump said, signaling he intends to sign legislation reimbursing federal workers after the nearly three-week shutdown ends.

Trump also described the evolution in proposed border wall building materials from concrete to steel. He said that one design has "steel that has concrete inside ... not a bad combination."