President Donald Trump and Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continue to quarrel over construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border and its funding on Thursday as negotiators work to come up with a deal to keep the government open before a February 15 deadline.

Before reopening the government - after surviving the longest federal closure in American history - Mr Trump gave Congress three weeks to come up with a resolution on a long-term funding plan while requiring $5.6bn for the border wall included in the legislation.

The speaker was previously hesitant to entirely rule out money for the border wall in the final funding agreement. But now, Ms Pelosi has hardened her stance on border security funding, stating that there will be no money for the wall.

“There’s not going to be any wall money in the legislation,” Ms Pelosi said in a press conference on Thursday, before adding that border security involving infrastructure and technology are a part of the negotiations.

The president dismissed the Democratic leader, claiming she is “just playing games” while insisting she would be “begging for a wall,” if a swarm of undocumented immigrants crossed the border.

Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures The US Capitol on the first morning of a partial government shutdown in Washington EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures President Trump speaks with children who called the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracker in the State Dining Room of the White House. He earlier in the day, tweeted that he was 'all alone in the White House' waiting for Democrats to make a deal on border security EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Furloughed federal workers pick up free food at a pop-up store of Kraft Heinz Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Hundreds of federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures A pedestrian walk past the U.S. Capitol ahead of a possible partial government shut down in Washington, U.S., December 20, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts JOSHUA ROBERTS Reuters Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures From left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Dick Durbin and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi walk to speak to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump about border security in the Situation Room of the White House. Trump declared he could keep parts of the government shut down for "months or even years" as he and Democratic leaders failed in a second closed-door meeting to resolve his demand for billions of dollars for a border wall with Mexico Evan Vucci AP Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures A sign alerts visitors to the closure of the National Archives on the fifth day of a partial government shutdown EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Hundreds of federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Visitors read signs announcing the closure of the White House Visitor Center EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures President Donald Trump speaks during a round-table discussion on border security and safe communities with State, local, and community leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures A sign alerts visitors to the closure of the White House Visitor Center on the first day of a partial government shutdown EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures Furloughed federal workers show their IDs for entering a pop-up store of Kraft Heinz Getty Images

Appearing in the Oval Office, the president offered a morose outlook on what lies ahead before the mid-month deadline, threatening to declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress in receiving the wall money.

“I’m not waiting for this committee and I’ve told a lot of people I don’t expect much coming out of the committee because I keep hearing words that ‘We’ll give you what you want but we won’t give you a wall.’ And the problem is, if they don’t give us a wall, it doesn’t work,” Trump added, appearing alongside Cabinet members and executives.

The president and his aides were making preparation for a national emergency order this week in the event that Congress fails to buckle on the negotiations, officials say. Drafts of the national emergency order has been reportedly passed around among White House aides and lawyers.

The president’s senior advisers, including Jared Kushner, warned that a move to declare a national order will immediately be challenged in court.

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But Mr Trump said on Thursday that he is “not concerned” about the possible legal challenges that comes with a national emergency declaration in order to build the wall.