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The U.S President Donald Trump admired hard-line strategy to the immigration of Giuseppe Conte during the first visit to the White House of newly-elected Prime Minister of Italy. Both leaders discussed their views regarding immigration and the global migrant issues during a joint press conference. The U.S President Trump also praised Conte for his shared ideologies. The U.S President said that Conte had been strict on illegal immigration since his two months joining. Trump also indicated that Italy had been under severe stress due to this specific issue. The Prime Minister of Italy was invited to the White House on Monday to discuss trade and immigration. The U.S President Trump threatened a government shut-down ahead of the midterm elections in 2018 for not strengthening the U.S border security situation.

The U.S President also tweeted that “I would be willing to ‘shut down’ government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall! must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc. and finally, go to the system of Immigration based on MERIT”! His comments were met with swift backlash from Democratic officials, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, whose spokesperson said the U.S President should stay on the golf course and stay out of the appropriations process for government funding negotiations. Donald Trump said during their press conference that Italy got tired of the immigration policies of the country leading up to Conte’s appointment. The U.S President stressed that he would always leave room for negotiation in an effort to prevent a government shutdown.