The Latest: Trump’s more measured on border security talks

WASHINGTON – The Latest on congressional negotiations for a potential bipartisan agreement on border security. (all times local):

3:05 p.m.

President Donald Trump is taking a wait-and-see approach to a potential bipartisan agreement on border security.

Asked about the congressional negotiations, Trump told reporters on Thursday: “I hear they’re working on something, we’ll see what happens.” But he added: “We need border security. We have to have it, it’s not an option. Let’s see what happens.”

It was a more measured tone from Trump, who had previously been dismissive of the congressional negotiations and has threated to declare a national emergency to bypass Congress and fund his long-promised border wall.

But Trump met earlier Thursday with Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama. Shelby said Trump was “very reasonable.”

Both Democratic and GOP negotiators said a deal could come as early as this weekend to make a Feb. 15 government shutdown deadline.

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2 p.m.

Negotiators are striking a distinctly optimistic tone after a meeting with President Donald Trump on the broad parameters of a potential bipartisan agreement on border security.

Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama said Thursday’s session in the Oval Office was “the most positive meeting I’ve had in a long time” and that the president was “very reasonable.”

Trump had previously said he doesn’t expect the talks to produce much and he’s threatened to declare a national emergency to bypass Congress and build a U.S.-Mexico border wall. But Shelby said Trump during their meeting “urged me to get to yes” on an agreement.

Both Democratic and GOP negotiators said a deal could come as early as this weekend to make a Feb. 15 government shutdown deadline.