Trump Criticizes Democrats During Ongoing Government Shutdown

In a statement on Tuesday, President Donald Trump described the Democrats’ actions to halt Congressional proceedings as a form of theft, insisting that Republicans would resist what he referred to as “this crazy plot of theirs.”

Trump made these remarks during a lunch gathering with Republican senators at the Rose Garden Club, marking the 20th day of the ongoing government shutdown. This shutdown has reportedly resulted from repeated Democratic opposition to an interim continuing resolution that was previously approved by President Joe Biden to maintain government funding through 2024.

“What I’ve said from the beginning is that our message is very simple: We will not be coerced by this crazy conspiracy of theirs. They have never done this before. No one has ever done this before. You will always vote for extension,” Trump stated, emphasizing his frustration.

He urged Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats to support a clean, bipartisan continuing resolution to immediately reopen the government. “The government must reopen now,” he insisted.

In his remarks, Trump labeled Schumer and the Democrats as “obstructors” and expressed his administration’s goal of securing $20 trillion in investments in the U.S. by the end of his second term. “They’re obstructionists, and they’re doing it because we’re doing very well. We’re doing well around the world. We’re doing well with the nearly $20 trillion we just talked about,” he said.

While Republicans are pushing to pass a straightforward continuing resolution without any added conditions, Democrats are advocating for extending Obamacare subsidies and repealing certain provisions in the One Big Beautiful Act, which would prevent noncitizens and illegal immigrants from accessing taxpayer-funded healthcare.

As he concluded his address, Trump invited Senate Minority Leader John Thune from South Dakota to share remarks, highlighting that attending Republicans had consistently supported reopening the government during prior votes.

Thune noted, “Four weeks into the Democratic shutdown, we are here today because the Senate Republican team is united.” He stated that this shutdown marks the longest in U.S. history, but he reassured attendees that Republicans had voted to reopen the government 11 times and would continue to do so.

Thune expressed hope that Senate Democrats might eventually come around, claiming, “And ultimately, sooner or later, the Democratic Party will come back. Mr. President, your policies are right for this country. This is your team. We are your partners in helping you campaign and achieve and implement the agenda that the American people voted for.”