Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) Tuesday defended a bipartisan border security deal that would avert another partial government shutdown at the end of the week. "This is a down payment on where the President wants to go, and where we want to go with him," Shelby said. "That is, to secure the borders of the United States." President Donald Trump initially expressed displeasure with the deal, which provides $1.375 billion dollars for a wall, far less than the $5.7 billion he sought. "I'm not happy about it," the President said. "It's not doing the trick." But later, following a meeting with Shelby, the President sounded more upbeat in messages posted to Twitter: "Was just presented the concept and parameters of the Border Security Deal by hard working Senator Richard Shelby. Looking over all aspects knowing that this will be hooked up with lots of money from other sources," the President tweeted. "Will be getting almost $23 BILLION for Border Security. Regardless of Wall money, it is being built as we speak!"
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