Trump caves over government shutdown

President Donald Trump has yielded to political pressure to end the longest US government shutdown in history.

After 35 days, Trump finally backed a deal to fund federal agencies for three weeks. The deal includes none of the money he has demanded for a US-Mexico border wall.

The Republican president had previously vowed to reject any budget unless it included $5.7bn (£4.3bn) to fund his signature campaign pledge. But Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, have flatly refused.

Late on Friday, the Senate and House unanimously passed a bill to temporarily end the shutdown, after which President Trump signed the bill into law.

Following the votes in Congress, Mr Trump tweeted that his decision had been "in no way a concession", but was ""taking care of the millions of people who were getting badly hurt by the shutdown".

Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Mr Trump said he was "very proud to announce" the agreement, which will fund the government until 15 February.

He said federal workers affected by the political impasse, whom he called "incredible patriots", would receive full back-pay.

Mr Trump also said he would not yet resort to "a very powerful alternative" - an apparent veiled reference to declaring a national emergency.