The threat of an impending government shutdown may reflect poorly on Republicans’ ability to govern, according to many Americans, but that doesn’t mean President Donald Trump will admit he’s worried about it.
“We’ll see what happens. If there’s a shutdown, there’s a shutdown,” Trump told Reuters when discussing the possibility that the government will be unable to continue funding itself within the next few days. (That crisis has since been diverted at the last minute.) While Trump acknowledged that a shutdown would be a “very negative thing,” he insisted that his administration was prepared to cope the temporary suspension of services and payments by the federal government should a shutdown come to pass.
Of course, Trump hasn’t been nearly as casual about the prospect of a shutdown on his Twitter account, where he has taken multiple opportunities to lay preemptive blame at the feet of the Democrats.
Democrats are trying to bail out insurance companies from disastrous #ObamaCare, and Puerto Rico with your tax dollars. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 26, 2017
The Democrats want to shut government if we don't bail out Puerto Rico and give billions to their insurance companies for OCare failure. NO!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017
I want to help our miners while the Democrats are blocking their healthcare.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017
I promise to rebuild our military and secure our border. Democrats want to shut down the government. Politics!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017
What's more important? Rebuilding our military – or bailing out insurance companies? Ask the Democrats.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017
Democrats jeopardizing the safety of our troops to bail out their donors from insurance companies. It is time to put #AmericaFirst🇺🇸
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017
Democrats used to support border security — now they want illegals to pour through our borders.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017
As families prepare for summer vacations in our National Parks – Democrats threaten to close them and shut down the government. Terrible!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017
On top of the possibility that he will preside over a government shutdown despite his party controlling both houses of Congress, President Trump also faces humiliation in the form of his latest effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
On Thursday House Republican leaders decided not to put a revised version of the Obamacare bill on the floor, after realizing that they did not have the votes to pass it. “We’re still educating members. We’ve been making great progress. As soon as we have the votes, we’ll vote on it,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California told reporters.
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