Outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeHow fast population growth made Arizona a swing state Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden MORE (R-Ariz.) said Friday it was “highly unlikely” that President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE would follow through on his threat to close the southern border if Democrats do not agree to provide money for his proposed border wall.

“It’s highly unlikely — gratefully — that he would do that,” Flake said on CNN. “It’s not likely to happen. It would stifle commerce, significant commerce, between our two countries that benefits both of us. So I don’t think he will follow through, I hope not.”

"Highly unlikely, gratefully."



Outgoing Republican Sen. @JeffFlake tells Jim @Acosta there is little chance Pres. Trump will actually follow through on his Twitter threat to close the border. https://t.co/XFd04p8MZu pic.twitter.com/5yyk2TpvhW — The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) December 28, 2018

The border wall has become the focal point of negotiations between Capitol Hill and the White House as a partial government shutdown enters its seventh day.

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Democrats and Republicans have yet to come to an agreement on the president’s demand for $5 billion in border wall funding as part of any legislation to reopen the government.

The president threatened Friday morning to shut down the border if his demands aren’t met.

“We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall & also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with. Hard to believe there was a Congress & President who would approve!” he said in a tweet.

We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall & also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with. Hard to believe there was a Congress & President who would approve! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018

The Senate had previously passed a government funding bill without the border wall funding, but Trump declared the next day he would not sign it without money for his signature campaign promise after facing pressure from conservative commentators and lawmakers.

The House passed a bill last week with $5.7 billion in border funding, though it was dead on arrival in the Senate as it was clear it would fail to reach a 60-vote hurdle. Democrats in both chambers have declared their opposition to the border wall, with likely next Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Trump signs largely symbolic pre-existing conditions order amid lawsuit MORE (D-Calif.) calling it a “non-starter.”

The shutdown has resulted in the furloughs of hundreds of thousands of federal employees and the closure of several government departments, including the Department of Homeland Security and numerous other agencies. It will likely extend into the new year and the next Congress, when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives and gain more leverage in negotiations, leaving them little incentive to agree to Trump’s demand.