Trump Blames Democrats for Government Shutdown
On Monday, President Donald Trump attributed the ongoing partial government shutdown to Democrats, highlighting the lack of agreement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security. He also pointed to what he considers achievements of his administration, particularly in relation to the economy and crime rates.
While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump touted “great fiscal numbers,” which included low inflation and decreasing fuel prices. “These are great fiscal numbers. We’ve seen low inflation, very low inflation. Prices are down. They’re down a lot. Gas is less than $2 a gallon in many places, which no one expected,” he claimed. However, it’s worth noting that the national average for gas is closer to $3, with even the lowest state averages exceeding $2.
Trump stated that he had managed to lower prices significantly, adhering to the principle of “drill, baby, drill.” He suggested that his administration has effectively regained control over resources, asserting, “We inherited the mess, we took our homeland back.”
Regarding the shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Trump insisted it was a “Democrat shutdown,” attributing the blame solely to them. He claimed that Democrats were upset over declining crime rates, despite statistics showing a decrease in violent crimes prior to his presidency. “This is a Democratic shutdown. This has nothing to do with the Republicans. They’re angry that crime numbers are so high. They’re very frustrated that there’s a movement,” he remarked.
Trump also addressed ongoing calls from Democrats for tighter oversight and reform of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a recent tragic incident in Minneapolis where federal agents were involved in the deaths of two Americans.
“They don’t want voter ID because they want to rig elections,” Trump commented about the House-passed Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE). This act proposes strict voter identification requirements, which Democrats have resisted in funding discussions.
He continued, “They don’t want mail-in voting. They want to abolish mail-in voting. And one more thing. [Republicans] It claims to be proof of citizenship. And Democrats are unwilling to provide proof of citizenship. They don’t want to give out voter ID.”
Despite the ongoing stalemate, Trump expressed a willingness to meet with Democrats to discuss solutions for the shutdown, emphasizing the importance of protecting law enforcement and acknowledging the work immigration officials have done to remove criminals.
The president also confirmed that he would deliver his State of the Union address, even if the shutdown persists. It seems there’s still some road ahead before any resolution is reached.
