President Trump said Thursday the partial government shutdown, which is entering its 13th day, is caused by the upcoming 2020 presidential election, blaming Democrats for playing politics and engaging in “presidential harassment.”
Congressional Democrats have refused to give Mr. Trump $5 billion for his wall along the southern border.
“The Shutdown is only because of the 2020 Presidential Election. The Democrats know they can’t win based on all of the achievements of “Trump,” so they are going all out on the desperately needed Wall and Border Security - and Presidential Harassment. For them, strictly politics!” Mr. Trump tweeted Thursday.
The president’s claim that Democrats are using the shutdown for political gain is not new. He made the same charges on Wednesday during a meeting with cabinet officials, referencing the 2020 election.
“I guess a lot of signs point to the fact that they’re not going to win the election,” the president said during the meeting. “And I hope they’re not going to win the election. But they view this as an election point for them. I actually think it’s bad politics, but I’m not thinking about the politics. I’m thinking about what’s right and what’s wrong.”
Congressional leaders failed to reach a deal to fully fund the federal government ahead of leaving Washington for the holidays, causing a partial government shutdown.
They returned to D.C. Wednesday for a briefing at the White House with the secretary of Homeland Security, but again emerged from the meeting without a compromise.
Leaders from both parties will return to the White House on Friday to continue negotiations after the new Congress gavels with California Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi expected to become Speaker of the House.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, California Democrat, told Fox News the new leadership will put the president in a worse position during his negotiations to reopen the government.
“You’re going to see the president isolated,” Mr. Swalwell said. “He is not going to get votes in the House or the Senate for the wall.”
Sen. Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican, said both parties are going to have to modify their offers in order to reach a deal.
“I think there is middle ground,” he told Fox News. “We do have individuals who are bad people who are crossing that border so the president is correct.”
• Dave Boyer contributed to this story.
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