Trump begins to crack on family separations and supports narrow bill to halt policy -- which he could end himself

President Donald Trump is reportedly beginning to backtrack on his "no tolerance" policy of separating families who cross the border illegally.

According to NBC News and Bloomberg, Trump now supports narrow legislation to halt the policy of separating children from their parents -- even though he could end the practice himself with a telephone call to Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

A White House official told Bloomberg on Wednesday that if two Republican-supported immigration bills fail to pass the House and Senate, "Trump is expected to support legislation aimed only at family separations."

The report added: "And by leaving it up to Congress to end the policy rather than acting on his own, Trump assures the escalating crisis at the border will continue for weeks, if not longer."

NBC News later confirmed the Bloomberg report.