GOP strategist Karl Rove expressed concern that the impending government shutdown will erode public trust in Washington, especially as lawmakers remain at odds over key policy issues like healthcare.
“Ultimately, the biggest loser in a shutdown scenario will likely be the public’s faith in how Washington operates,” Rove noted on Wednesday. “Voters perceive these shutdowns as a sign of stark incompetence from our leaders.”
He referenced statistics from the Pew Research Center, highlighting that voter confidence in the federal government has dropped by 51% since 1958, according to the National Election Research.
“The primary reason for this decline is that Washington struggles to maintain financial stability,” he commented on the waning trust. “Unfortunately, it appears that the lessons of past shutdowns have not been learned, and the political dynamics remain puzzling.”
Earlier this month, Senate Democrats rejected a GOP-led plan to temporarily fund the government until November 21.
In response, Trump canceled a planned meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, labeling their demands as “ridiculous and anxious.”
Rove argued that shutdowns tend to favor the party in a more advantageous position. He pointed out that three factors play into the outcome.
“First, which side appears stronger by taking independent action. [Former President] Clinton, for instance, did this in 1996. Second, just like the GOP did in 2014, the party can leverage better messaging to galvanize their support base, as seen in 2020,” he wrote.
The strategist further indicated, “Given our chaotic political landscape, it’s likely this will unfold again.”
Rove also referred to Trump’s initial administration as a pertinent example of how financial shutdowns can influence election cycles, especially when the government is closed for over 30 days.
“The aftermath of the significant shutdown from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, was mixed. It was tied to funding for Trump’s border wall, which Democrats opposed. The shutdown ended with Trump signing a continuing resolution that circumvented his issue,” he explained. “Trump’s approval rating dipped from 39% to 37% before the shutdown but climbed back to 44% by February 1. Nevertheless, he lost the 2020 election despite Republicans gaining 13 House seats and Democrats winning four Senate seats, ultimately taking control of the Senate.”
Lawmakers need to come together to avoid a shutdown before September 30, requiring at least some support from Democrats.
