Trump says shutdown will end when Democrats give in: “If they don’t vote, that’s their problem”
Trump says shutdown will end when Democrats give in: “If they don’t vote, that’s their problem”
Donald Trump says the government shutdown will only end when Democrats “give in.” In a recent interview, the former president blamed Democrats for the crisis and called them “crazed lunatics” who have “lost their way.”
The shutdown, now entering its fifth week, began a month ago and is close to breaking the 35-day record set during Trump’s own presidency in 2018 and 2019. Thousands of federal employees are furloughed without pay, and members of the military are continuing to work but will not be paid until the government reopens. Millions of Americans could also miss their November food stamp benefits if the stalemate continues.
Trump said Republicans are doing their part to reopen the government, while Democrats are refusing to cooperate.
“The Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it,” Trump said. “This has happened like 18 times before. The Democrats always voted for an extension, always saying, ‘Give us an extension, we’ll work it out.’”
A major sticking point in the standoff is health care. Democrats are pushing for an extension of government subsidies that help more than 20 million Americans pay for insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Without those subsidies, premiums could double for many families.
Trump criticized Obamacare, calling it “terrible” and “bad health care at far too high a price.”
“We should fix that. And we can fix it with the Democrats,” he said. “All they have to do is let the country open and we’ll fix it.”
Trump said Republicans came close to repealing parts of Obamacare in 2017 but fell one vote short. Despite years of promises, he did not offer a new plan to replace the law during his recent interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, his first appearance on the program in five years.
He ruled out bringing lawmakers to the White House for negotiations as he had done during previous shutdowns.
“I’m not going to do it by being extorted by the Democrats who have lost their way,” Trump said. “There’s something wrong with these people.”
Trump said he believes Democrats will eventually back down.
“And if they don’t vote, that’s their problem,” he added.
He also urged Senate Republicans to consider using the “nuclear option” to end the filibuster and allow legislation to pass without Democratic support, an idea Senate Majority Leader John Thune has rejected.
“The Republicans have to get tougher,” Trump said. “If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want. We’re not going to lose power.”
Trump’s interview also touched on China, Venezuela, tariffs, and immigration. It was his first appearance on 60 Minutes since settling a lawsuit with CBS’s parent company, Paramount, over a 2024 interview with then Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The settlement did not include an apology.
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