President Trump has made it nearly impossible for Republicans to blame Democrats for an increasingly likely partial government shutdown, Politico reports. They’re going to try anyway. House Republicans may pass a stopgap spending bill that provides $5 billion for Trump’s border wall, daring Senate Democrats to accept it or face the fallout of any funding lapse next week. Democrats and some Republicans aren’t taking the gambit seriously after Trump boasted that he’d be “proud” to shut down the government over his wall demands during a televised Oval Office clash with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Az.) said, “Everybody wants to blame it on the other party, always. That’s what you typically do. That’s out the window now.” Congressional Republicans were reeling as they tried to adjust to the president’s stunning willingness to own an impending partial shutdown over his wall demands. Trump declared, “I don’t mind owning that issue. … We’re closing it down for border security and I think I win that every single time.” Trump’s confidence, and his partnership with the congressional GOP, will be tested if roughly a quarter of the government ends up closing after next week without a bipartisan agreement. Schumer said that if the government shuts down, Pelosi will pass a bill restarting the government on Jan. 3, putting the onus on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to buckle or stick with Trump’s border fight.