Trump expected to address border-shutdown stalemate

The President did not originally have any announcements on his schedule, and the timing of the event could change, the sources said.

White House officials have been exploring ways out of the government shutdown, which on Friday led to widespread delays at East Coast airports. The pressure increased when two competing proposals to end the deadlock failed in the Senate on Thursday.

The President has not ruled out declaring a national emergency, and on Thursday repeatedly insisted he had many "alternatives" to securing border wall funding that did not involve Congress.

Officials continue to say, however, that they prefer solving the dispute legislatively, and have remained in close negotiations with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Meanwhile, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have indicated that they are waiting to see what the President will accept as part of a short-term funding deal.

Trump said on Thursday he would accept such a measure only if it included a "prorated down payment" on the border wall. Neither he nor his aides have specified a dollar figure for the down payment.

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