After the shutdown slipped into the record books, with the impasse now entering its 23rd day, Mr Trump fired off a series of tweets saying he did have a strategy to break the deadlock.
President Donald Trump has said he has “no idea” if he will be able to strike a deal with the Democrats for his border wall and end the longest US government shutdown in history.
He tweeted: “I do have a plan on the Shutdown. But to understand that plan you would have to understand the fact that I won the election, and I promised safety and security for the American people. Part of that promise was a Wall at the Southern Border. Elections have consequences!”
Mr Trump said the Democrats “could solve the Shutdown in 15 minutes” and that he was “ready to sign” a deal.
He tweeted: “I am in the White House waiting for Cryin’ Chuck and Nancy to call so we can start helping our Country both at the Border and from within.”
The shutdown has affected the work of nine cabinet departments and various smaller agencies – affecting 800,000 workers who have not been paid since 22 December.
Later on Saturday, in a telephone interview with Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro, the president said if the Democrats “don’t come to their senses” he would declare a national emergency to free up money for his wall without congressional approval.
It signalled a shift in his stance from a day earlier when he had said he was not ready to do it “right now”.