Build the wall or I'll shut down the government - Trump

  • 24/08/2017
Graffiti art depicting US President Donald Trump on Israeli separation barrier in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.
The threat from Mr Trump saw stocks in the US dive sharply. Photo credit: Getty

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the US government if he does not secure funding for a border wall with Mexico would lead to a shutdown that "nobody will like".

"If the President pursues this path, against the wishes of both Republicans and Democrats, as well as the majority of the American people, he will be heading towards a government shutdown which nobody will like and which won't accomplish anything," Mr Schumer said in a statement on Wednesday.

Separately, credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings said a failure by US officials to raise the federal debt ceiling in a timely manner would prompt it to review the US sovereign rating, "with potentially negative implications".

Fitch, which currently assigns the US its highest rating - "AAA" - said in a statement that the prioritisation of debt service payments over other government obligations, should the debt ceiling not be raised, "may not be compatible with 'AAA' status".

Australia also has a AAA rating, while Fitch rates New Zealand as AA+. Moody's and Standard and Poor's rate New Zealand AA+ and AAA respectively.

The threat from Mr Trump saw stocks in the US dive sharply.

Reuters / Newshub.