Trump wall

The president's close adviser, Kellyanne Conway, said funding for the wall would be left out of a budget measure that must pass by Friday.

Building the wall, paid for by Mexico, was a key campaign promise.

Democrats had threatened to block the bill if money was earmarked for the wall, so its omission may now avert a government shutdown.

But the president insisted on Twitter that he still supported the wall and that it would be built.

Mr Trump built much of his campaign on his promises to tackle immigration and border control. During his campaign for the White House, he repeatedly promised to build a border wall, and make Mexico pay for it.

He told CBS television he will accept a fence instead of a wall, for certain areas of the border, although he said a wall was more appropriate for other regions.

In his first television interview since winning the presidential election, Mr Trump insisted he would carry out his hardline immigration proposals.