Trump news: President demands billions for border wall as Pelosi says he 'isn't worth' impeaching

Follow our live coverage from yet another dramatic day in Washington

Trump calls Russia investigation a 'collusion witch hoax' outside White House

Donald Trump will reportedly ask Congress for $8.6bn (£6.6bn) to build his southern border wall on Monday under proposals for his 2020 fiscal budget, a $3bn (£2.3bn) increase on his last estimate for the job.

The White House is proposing $2.7trn (£2trn) in spending cuts for the year beginning 1 October, a reduction of 5 percent across all non-defence agencies while military funding is boosted to $750bn (£577bn).

Senior Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer were quick to shoot down the proposals, saying the president had “hurt millions of Americans and caused widespread chaos” with the recent 35-day government shutdown and warning: “Congress refused to fund his wall and he was forced to admit defeat and reopen the government. The same thing will repeat itself if he tries this again.”

As Washington reacted to the budget proposal, the country's capital prepared for the anticipated report from special counsel Robert Mueller's office, which has dived into potential coordination between the Trump campaign, the president, and Russian interests during the 2016 election.

It is not clear when that report will be released, but observers say that the investigation is likely imminent. The week ahead itself will contain several high level updates that could set the stage for how the report is received, and what happens afterward.

But, with no specific word on whether the special counsel report will include recommendations to indictments against the president, leading Democrats are holding back from support for impeachment.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, for instance, told The Washington Post on Wednesday that she is worried about the divisive impact that impeachment proceedings would have on the American public.

"He's just not worth it," Ms Pelosi said of impeaching the president.

That said, it appears unlikely that Democrats in control of the House would not pursue impeachment if a damning Mueller report were delivered to them form the attorney general's office.

Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load

Key Points

• President revives border wall funding debate with 2020 budget request
• 'We hope he learned his lesson', say exasperated Democrats
• Trump donor's company promised Chinese clients access to president

[11 March 2019 18:25 · Clark Mindock]

The White House says that Congress has kept the president from balancing the budget.

[11 March 2019 18:26 · Clark Mindock]

The White House says that it is focused on spending money from the past appropriations, and money identified by the emergency declaration.

The new request would be to finish the wall, a spokesperson said.

[11 March 2019 18:28 · Clark Mindock]

The White House has described this budget as putting forward its "vision" for the next 10 years.

"We need to continue to secure the country. We need to continue to secure the border," a spokesperson said.

[11 March 2019 18:32 · Clark Mindock]

Sarah Huckabee Sanders has extended "love and prayers" to those in the plane that crashed in Ethiopia. She said the White House is working with officials in the investigation.

[11 March 2019 18:33 · Clark Mindock]

Sarah Huckabee Sanders says that the White House believes anti-semitism should be called out when asked if Mr Trump actually believes Democrats actually hate Jews.

It's "something that should be called by name. It shouldn't be put into a watered down resolution," Ms Sanders said.

[11 March 2019 18:34 · Clark Mindock]

Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to make any major personnel announcements.

[11 March 2019 18:35 · Clark Mindock]

Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to commit the White House to a specific timeline for Donald Trump to meet the Chinese president.

[11 March 2019 18:37 · Clark Mindock]

"He's doing his job. He's doing what Congress should be doing," Sarah Huckabee Sanders said when asked what Donald Trump is doing to quell Republican revolt over the national emergency.

[11 March 2019 18:38 · Clark Mindock]

Sarah Huckabee Sanders has again refused to answer yes or no when asked if the president believes Democrats hate Jews.

[11 March 2019 18:44 · Clark Mindock]

Lots of questions now on whether Donald Trump has condemned the nazis in Charlottesville.