Trump surrenders to Democrats, ends government shutdown

New York: US President Donald Trump has capitulated to his Democratic opponents by agreeing to re-open the US government without securing any money for a wall on the border with Mexico.

Just a day after vowing he would not cave in to demands that he end the government shutdown, Trump announced he would re-open the government for three weeks of negotiations on border security.

Trump warned that unless he secured funding for a wall, he would shut down the government again on February 15 or declare a national emergency to build it without Congress' approval.

As the longest shutdown in US history entered its fifth week on Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it was stopping flights temporarily into New York's LaGuardia Airport because of a lack of staff.

Like other federal workers, air traffic controllers have been forced to work without pay during the shutdown and some have been calling in sick.

Absenteeism also caused delays for flights at airports in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Friday was the 35th day of the shutdown and marked the second time that around 800,000 federal workers would miss a paycheck.

Speaking from the Rose Garden at the White House, Trump said: "I am proud to announce we have reached a deal to re-open the government."

He said he hoped Democrats would work with Republicans in "good faith" to secure a barrier on the border that would stop immigrants and drugs coming into the US illegally.

"We really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or steel barrier," he said.

"If we don't get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down on Feb. 15, again, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency.

"We will have great security."

Referring to the possibility of declaring a national emergency, Trump said he had a "powerful alternative" at his disposal but that he had not wanted to use it.

Trump expressed gratitude for federal workers who had gone without pay during the shutdown.

"I will make sure that all employees receive their backpay very quickly or as soon as possible," he said.

"It'll happen fast."

The Democrats' leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, said: "Hopefully now the President has learnt his lesson.

"We cannot hold the American people hostage ever again."

A new poll by The Washington Post and ABC found that Trump's popularity had weakened during the shutdown, with 37 per cent of the public approving of his job performance and 58 per cent disapproving.

Trump's backdown angered vocal members of his conservative base, who have insisted he must do whatever it takes to build a wall.

"Good news for George Herbert Walker Bush: As of today, he is no longer the biggest wimp ever to serve as President of the United States," tweeted right-wing commentator Ann Coulter.

Trump's announcement came just hours after special counsel Robert Mueller indicted one of the president's longtime allies, Roger Stone, on seven criminal charges.

These included lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction.