Trump can't resist holding America hostage

Once again he will punch America in the guts if he doesn't get what he wants.

And he hasn't really decided what he wants, yet.

And if he does, he tends to change his mind at the last moment and reject the deal he himself asked for.

Trump shifts, says he'll close border unless Congress agrees to deal

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he would shutter the border if he cannot reach a deal with Congress to pass stricter immigration laws, a retreat of sorts from his threat last Friday to close all or part of the frontier unless Mexico stops migrants from crossing.

But the president’s comments also keep open the possibility of closing the border at some time in the future, and Trump was vague about the criteria that would trigger the move.

The president said his decision will depend on whether Mexico continues apprehending migrants crossing its borders from Central America en route to the U.S. in addition to getting a deal with Congress.

"If we don’t make a deal with Congress, the border’s going to be closed. 100 percent,” Trump said.

. . . .

Trump suggested he is unbowed by concern voiced by lawmakers and business groups about the economic effects of closing the border, saying “security is more important to me than trade.”

The U.S. and Mexico exchange more than $1.7 billion in goods and services daily and each day more than half a million legal workers, students, tourists and shoppers cross the border, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“Even threatening to close the border to legitimate commerce and travel creates a degree of economic uncertainty that risks compromising the very gains in growth and productivity that policies of the Trump administration have helped achieve,” the Chamber’s executive vice president and chief policy officer, Neil Bradley, said Monday.