Trump reportedly believes that a government shutdown might score him political points
- President Donald Trump reportedly believes that a government shutdown could be politically beneficial for him.
- Trump said he would blame Democrats if a partial government shutdown was triggered.
President Donald Trump reportedly believes that a government shutdown could be politically beneficial for him and could score points with his supporters, according to sources cited in a Washington Post report Thursday.
Trump reportedly asked friends how the looming partial government shutdown, which triggers if Trump is not able to sign a funding bill by December 8, will affect him politically, and told people he would blame the Democrats if it occurred.
Trump recently echoed his heated rhetoric on immigration during the 2016 presidential campaign, in order to sway supporters who have grown uneasy with him extending an olive branch to Democrats in September, according to The Post. Trump reportedly told advisers that taking a hardline approach to immigration and securing funding for his proposed US-Mexico border wall was an important issue.
Trump made similar statements Tuesday, after he was ghosted by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who declined to attend a meeting with Republican leaders to discuss federal budget.
"Nothing to them is important except for raising taxes," Trump said Tuesday, adding that he "would absolutely blame the Democrats."
Trump's supposed stance on the partial government shutdown has conflicted with Republican lawmakers, who are desperate for Democratic support to gain votes.
"When you run for office and you get elected and you are given the opportunity to govern, it strikes me as a bad idea to shut the government down," Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said in The Post. "That seems like an abdication of responsibility."
Senate Republicans scrambled to rewrite their tax legislation on Thursday, before a final vote is expected at the end of the week.