President Trump announced over Twitter Thursday that he is canceling his trip to Davos, Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum. He cited the government shutdown and the refusal of Democratic lawmakers to budge on border wall funding as the reasons for skipping the conference.

He tweeted:

“Because of the Democrats intransigence on Border Security and the great importance of Safety for our Nation, I am respectfully canceling my very important trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. My warmest regards and apologies to the @WEF!”

Trump’s announcement demonstrates a critical fact about the shutdown: The president is serious about getting his funding for the wall, and he has made border security his top priority.

Trump Skips Economic Forum

The president previously stated that he planned to attend the conference in Switzerland if the government shutdown ended. “I intended to go and speak in front of the international community in Davos,” he said. “That’s still on, but if the shutdown continues — it’s a little while from now — but if the shutdown continues, I won’t go.”

The World Economic Forum (WEF), which starts on January 22, is held at the beginning of each year, and the president has attended each since he took office. The WEF is a non-profit organization founded to improve global economic conditions. It was expected that Trump would participate in high-level conversations on trade between the U.S. and China.

Trump Sending A Message?

Attending the conference would have given the president an opportunity to sit down with other world leaders to discuss trade and other economic issues. China, in particular, is one of the main sticking points, as Washington and Beijing have clashed over tariffs and other trade policies. In the days leading up to the announcement, the president was engaged in negotiations with Chinese leaders to resolve their differences. He tweeted: “Talks with China are going very well!”

The fact that Trump is willing to give up a critical opportunity to continue talks with China and other world leaders demonstrates that he doesn’t want to take his eyes off the prize. It’s another example of him putting his “America First” philosophy into action; he views the nation’s security as more important than trade talks.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are stubbornly digging in their heels and refusing to compromise.

Fighting the Trump Victory

After the president’s recent Oval Office address to the nation, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reiterated their commitment to obstructing Trump’s agenda when it comes to securing the border. While refusing to address the points the president made during his address, they continued to push their erroneous claim that a border wall is an ineffective method of deterring illegal immigration.

But the past rhetoric of Democratic leaders shows that they know a physical barrier is a potent means of decreasing illegal entry into the United States. So what is their motivation for pushing back against Trump’s wall?

It does not appear to have anything to do with the wall’s efficacy; instead, it seems they changed their mind when the idea was adopted by a president they despise. Moreover, the Democratic base wants their leaders to oppose each move the president makes. Progressives are not swayed by the number of deaths that have occurred at the hands of criminal aliens. They remain unconcerned about the damaging impact of illegal immigration on minority communities.

Their divine purpose is not to defend the American people; it is to resist the president. It is unclear who will blink first in this game of political chicken. But one thing is certain: This showdown is just the first of many that the nation can expect to see over the next couple years as the Democrats control the House.