Democrats take control of the House of Represents today and will begin the process of reopening the federal government by passing a temporary funding bill as soon as possible, but what will happen next?
Even if we assume the Republican-controlled Senate will pass the funding bill advanced by House Democrats, will Trump sign it?
According to CNN, Trump privately told Democratic leadership that he will not sign a funding bill that does not include money for his fantasy border wall because he would "look foolish."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he asked Trump why the government couldn't be reopened while the two sides work to resolve their differences.
"I asked him directly ... He could not give a good answer," Schumer said. [...]
Eventually Schumer asked a third time for one reason Trump wouldn't accept the offer, and Trump responded: "I would look foolish if I did that."
Given that the Senate unanimously passed a bill to reopen the government by a simple voice vote (meaning they didn't even count votes) just before Christmas, it's within the realm of possibility that Congress could override Trump's veto, but there's also no guarantee.
If Trump truly believes that this is his last chance to fund his wall, and if he believes failing to fund his wall will doom his chances of being reelected, I think we should expect that he won't reopen the government. At least not willingly.
It remains to be seen how quickly a new funding bill could clear through the new Congress, but I wouldn't expect to see the federal government reopened this weekend and possibly not even next week if Trump is serious.
"If Trump is serious" is a very big "if."