As the deadline for government funding looms, President-elect Donald Trump has publicly laid the blame for a potential government shutdown squarely on the shoulders of President Joe Biden. Trump, in a series of statements, insisted that any government shutdown that happens before his inauguration on January 20 should be seen as a problem for the Biden administration to solve. Meanwhile, the president-elect is also pushing for significant changes to the country’s debt limit, which could complicate ongoing negotiations on Capitol Hill.
Trump’s Blame Game: Shutting Down the Government is Biden’s Responsibility
With the clock ticking down to a midnight deadline on Friday, lawmakers seemed to have found a solution to keep the government funded temporarily. A bipartisan continuing resolution (CR), which would extend government funding into March, was initially agreed upon earlier this week. However, the bill was quickly derailed after criticism from prominent figures, including Trump ally Elon Musk, as well as Trump himself and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Their opposition to the CR bill has left Congress in a state of uncertainty, with no clear path forward for avoiding a shutdown.
Despite this turmoil, Trump was clear about his position on the matter. He took to Truth Social, his social media platform, to declare that if a shutdown were to occur, it should be blamed on President Biden, not on the incoming administration. In a post, Trump wrote, If a government shutdown is going to occur, let it start under the Biden Administration and not under ‘TRUMP’ after January 20th.” “This is a Biden problem, but Republicans will help solve it, he continued.
The statement reflects Trump’s ongoing strategy of distancing himself from the current situation in Washington, framing the shutdown crisis as a consequence of Biden’s leadership. By pushing the blame onto Biden, Trump hopes to deflect any political fallout that might occur from a government shutdown, should it happen before his inauguration.
Debt Ceiling Demand Stalls Negotiations
Amid the budget and shutdown drama, Trump is also making his mark on a separate but closely related issue: the federal debt limit. For months, Trump has been advocating for an increase or outright removal of the country’s debt ceiling as part of any government funding deal. This demand has created friction with conservative lawmakers who have traditionally taken a hardline stance on the debt ceiling, viewing it as a tool to push for fiscal discipline.
Trump reaffirmed his stance on the debt ceiling in an early Friday morning post on Truth Social. Trump wrote, “Congress must repeal the absurd Debt Ceiling or extend it until maybe 2029.” “We should never strike a deal without this. Keep in mind that the pressure is on the president. In an attempt to steer clear of the expensive debt limit standoffs that have afflicted Washington in previous years, the president-elect is adamant about tying the debt ceiling to government financing.
However, Trump’s proposal is a tough sell for many lawmakers, particularly within the conservative wing of the Republican Party, who have long argued for debt reduction and fiscal restraint. While Trump’s allies are pushing for the debt ceiling to be addressed in a way that provides long-term relief, Democrats are wary of making concessions on such a controversial issue, especially in the lead-up to a government shutdown.
Failed Attempts at a Funding Deal
The ongoing debate over the government’s budget has already seen several attempts to reach a resolution, none of which have succeeded so far. Earlier in the week, it appeared that Congress was on the brink of passing a temporary funding bill that would keep the government running through March. This “Plan A” was a bipartisan effort that had the potential to garner enough support to pass in both the House and Senate.
However, as discussions progressed, opposition to the bill grew. Elon Musk and other conservative voices criticized the proposed package, causing Trump to weigh in with his own objections. Ultimately, the proposed measure was blocked in the House by 38 Republican defectors, signaling the challenges that Speaker Mike Johnson faces in finding a workable solution. With the deadline quickly approaching, Johnson and Trump are weighing the pros and cons of a potential government shutdown.
The Speaker’s Role in the Shutdown Drama
Speaker Mike Johnson is caught in the middle of this funding crisis, trying to balance Trump’s demands with the need to secure Democratic support for any potential deal. The speaker’s efforts have included exploring multiple options to keep the government funded. By Friday morning, Johnson was preparing for another vote on a new funding bill, though he was careful not to make any promises about whether an agreement would be reached in time.
“We’re expecting votes this morning. So y’all stay tuned. We’ve got a plan,” Johnson said to reporters on Friday. When asked if a new agreement had been reached, he responded, “We’ll see.” Johnson’s leadership will likely be tested in the coming days as Congress scrambles to avert a shutdown and address the numerous competing interests at play.
Schumer and Biden’s Efforts to Revive Bipartisanship
Amid the turmoil, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for a return to the bipartisan deal that had been originally negotiated before Trump and Musk derailed it. Schumer has argued that the failure of the funding bill in the House was a setback, but one that provides an opportunity to revive the compromise that was initially reached.
The bill’s failure in the House is a positive thing, and we should return to the bipartisan agreement we reached,” Schumer stated. The Senate Majority Leader’s remarks highlight the continuing divide between Democrats and Republicans over how to resolve the current crisis, with each side blaming the other for the political gridlock.
Vance Shifts Focus to Shutdown Messaging
Vice President-elect JD Vance has also weighed in on the shutdown debate, echoing Trump’s messaging that Democrats bear much of the responsibility for the looming shutdown. Speaking to reporters, Vance said, “They’ve asked for a shutdown and I think that’s exactly what they’re going to get.”
In these final days before the government funding deadline, Republicans are increasingly framing the shutdown as a problem created by the Biden administration and congressional Democrats. While negotiations continue, it remains uncertain whether lawmakers can reach a compromise that will prevent a shutdown and address the myriad fiscal challenges facing the country.
A Tense Final Countdown
As Friday’s deadline looms, Congress and the Biden administration face a tense standoff. With Trump’s influence continuing to shape the Republican approach to the funding crisis, and with no clear resolution in sight, the coming days will determine whether the government shuts down or if a last-minute deal can be struck to avoid it. The question of whether Trump’s demands on the debt ceiling and other issues will be incorporated into a final funding package remains at the forefront of this high-stakes negotiation.
Read More : Trump and Musk Spark Chaos in Washington
