White House backtracks after Trump opens the door to delaying funding for border wall

— -- The White House continues to send mixed signals about whether it will draw a hard line on requiring that funding for a border wall be included in any spending bill that hits the president's desk.

President Trump signaled to a gathering of conservative media on Monday that he may be open to a delay in funding for his proposed border wall.

Trump's first 100 days

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President Donald Trump wrapped up his first 100 days in office with a campaign rally at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pa., April, 29, 2017. Trump assailed the press as he skipped the White House Correspondents' Dinner, becoming the first president in 36 years to miss the annual dinner since Reagan, who was recovering from being shot. The president also reiterated his campaign promises on healthcare, taxes and the border wall.

Carolyn Kaster/AP

He said, according to tweets from conservative media at the gathering, that his administration could get the funding for the wall this week or could come back to it in September.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., seized on the remarks, saying in a statement Monday evening, "It's good for the country that President Trump is taking the wall off the table in these negotiations. Now the bipartisan and bicameral negotiators can continue working on the outstanding issues."

But when asked about it by ABC News on Tuesday morning, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that Trump has not given up on getting funding for the wall now and that it remains an administration priority for the fiscal year 2017 and 2018 spending bills.

Democrats in Congress have vowed to block the passage of a last-minute appropriations bill if it includes funding for the wall.

This is a developing news story. Please check back for updates.