BREAKING NEWS

Trump cancels planned Davos trip as shutdown drags on

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled a planned visit later this month to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, signaling he was prepared for the political showdown over the partial federal government shutdown to stretch into late January.
It was unclear whether the shutdown, now in its 20th day, would end before the start of the global economic meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 22 to 25. Trump and congressional Democrats are in a battle over funding for the government and Trump's long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border.
"Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully canceling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum," Trump wrote on Twitter.
The president had told reporters at the White House earlier on Thursday that he intended to speak at the forum but would not attend if the shutdown continued.
The cancellation quashes any opportunity for Trump to meet with other world leaders about economic issues, including trade.