The partial U.S. government shutdown entered a record 22nd day on Saturday, as President Donald Trump remains steadfast in his demand for $5.7 billion to build a Mexico border wall and Democrats in Congress determined to refuse the funds.

The shutdown became the longest on record at midnight on Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it overtook the 21-day stretch in 1995-1996 under President Bill Clinton.

Mr. Trump on Friday, however, backed off on a series of previous threats to end the deadlock by declaring a national emergency and attempting to secure the funds without congressional approval. “I am not going to do it so fast,” he said at a White House meeting.

Mr. Trump described an emergency declaration as the “easy way out” and said Congress had to step up to the responsibility of approving the $5.7 billion. Until now, Mr. Trump had suggested numerous times that he was getting closer to taking the decision.

Only minutes earlier, powerful Republican ally Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted after talks with Mr. Trump: “Mr. President, Declare a national emergency NOW.”