Donald Trump has called on Senate Republicans to take the “nuclear option” to end the US government shutdown, as both parties traded blame on the second day of the impasse. The president urged lowering the majority needed to pass legislation to 51 votes, a move opposed by the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, who lacked the votes to avert the shutdown on his own.
Trump attacked Democrats for opposing a short-term budget fix, tweeting that they wanted “illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked”. The White House also released a campaign ad saying Democrats were “complicit in every murder committed by illegal immigrants”. The ad was produced by an outside group, according to the White House director of legislative affairs, Marc Short, though it concludes with Trump saying: “I’m Donald Trump and I approve this message.”
Senator Bernie Sanders condemned the ad as “nonsense and outrageous”. Democrats are pushing for renewed protections for Dreamers, young undocumented immigrants whose temporary legal status was rescinded by Trump. Republicans argue that negotiations on the issue can continue after government funding is passed, given Trump’s March deadline for a resolution.
The president remained in Washington, missing a gala at his Florida resort, but faced criticism for failing to lead. In 2013, during the last government shutdown, Trump said that “problems start from the top and they have to get solved from the top”. The White House released a photo of Trump alone in the Oval Office wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap, but it was reported he had not spoken to the Democratic Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, since Friday.
Schumer said working with Trump was like “negotiating with Jell-O” and that he had agreed to fund a border wall in exchange for Dreamer protections. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders called Schumer’s account “false”. McConnell aims to hold another vote on short-term funding until 8 February. House speaker Paul Ryan said the lower chamber would accept the measure, while House minority leader Nancy Pelosi demanded parity between defence and domestic spending and a commitment to debate immigration.
Senator Lindsey Graham predicted a “breakthrough” after moderates convened a meeting, saying: “The Senate needs to lead, because no one else is and the White House staff is making things very difficult.”
