Trump says 'prepared' to force shutdown for more than a year

Washington: President Donald Trump said Friday he was prepared to keep the US government closed for a year or more, as he stood firm on his contentious demand for billions of dollars to fund a border wall with Mexico.

Trump confirmed he said as much in a meeting earlier Friday with top Democrats that failed to produce a deal on ending the two-week shutdown.

“Absolutely I said that,” Trump said, adding, “I don’t think it will. But I am prepared.