(CNN) House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, one of President Donald Trump's closest allies, on Wednesday described Trump's resolve to hold out for $5 billion in border wall funding as "very firm" as the partial government shutdown entered its fifth day. Having spoken to the President since Saturday, the North Carolina Republican described Democrats as "misreading" Trump if they thought he would compromise on funding for the wall. "I can tell you, if they believe this President is going to yield on this particular issue, they're misreading him, misreading the American people," Meadows told CNN's Manu Raju on "Inside Politics." Trump, speaking to reporters hours later during a trip to Iraq to visit US troops, indicated his position had not changed. Asked how long the shutdown would last, the President responded that it would go on for "whatever it takes" for him to get wall funding.

Source: CNN December 26, 2018 19:58 UTC