"I did, absolutely, I said that," said the president, speaking with reporters after the morning meeting. 

"I don't think it will," Trump added, "But I am prepared and I think I can speak for Republicans in the House and Republicans in the Senate. I hope it doesn't go on even beyond a few more days. It really could open very quickly, I told them."

Trump has directed Vice President Mike Pence, White House senior adviser (and his son-in-law) Jared Kushner and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to meet with the aides of top congressional leaders over the weekend to continue discussions on the shutdown impasse. 

"We really cannot resolve this until we open up government, and we made that clear to the president," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) following the meeting - which Trump called "very productive."