what's happening at the border, it's humanitarian. the president has tried to sell a bill of goods to the american people. putting that aside in terms of the president making an end run around congress. >> reporter: with little more than a day before the government runs out of money, some were starting to worry. >> we have to pass it. then we all pray that the president will sign it. >> reporter: as republican lawmakers were praying the president would sign the spending deal. >> let's pray the president will have wisdom to sign the bill so government doesn't shut down. >> reporter: part of the reason for the high drama, the president's allies were pleading with mr. trump to reject the deal. as it fell well short of his promise to build a wall on the border. >> any republican that supports this garbage compromise, you will have to explain. >> reporter: as one fax news personality tweeted, this bill must not be signed. as the president was dragging his feet, he was making it all about him.