President Trump is officially playing hardball.
The White House stated on Saturday that it will not agree to a deal on the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, until the Senate approves a funding bill for the government’s operation, the Washington Examiner reports.
The shutdown occurred after Senate Democrats on Friday night refused to vote for a stop-gap measure that would have kept the government running until February 8.
Democrats opposed the funding bill because it does not include protection for DACA beneficiaries. President Trump and congressional Republicans have expressed willingness to give reach a deal on DACA, but on the condition of receiving border wall funding and an end to chain migration in exchange.
The Democrats have been told, and fully understand, that there can be no DACA without the desperately needed WALL at the Southern Border and an END to the horrible Chain Migration & ridiculous Lottery System of Immigration etc. We must protect our Country at all cost!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2017
Following the shutdown, which may put military pay in jeopardy, White House legislative affairs director Marc Short said their position “remains the same.”
“We continue to remain anxious to reach a deal on DACA, and we look forward to resuming those negotiations as soon as the Senate Democrats reopen the government,” Short said at a press conference on Saturday.
The stop-gap measure was shot down in the Senate on a 50-49 vote after being passed by the Republican-controlled House. Several mainstream media outlets, including the New York Times and Associated Press, acknowledged Democrats’ role in shutting down the government.
Short accused Democrats of “conducting a two-year-old temper tantrum.”
President Trump excoriated Democrats for provoking the shutdown in several Saturday tweets.
Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
For those asking, the Republicans only have 51 votes in the Senate, and they need 60. That is why we need to win more Republicans in 2018 Election! We can then be even tougher on Crime (and Border), and even better to our Military & Veterans!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
Following the shutdown, the president canceled a Saturday trip to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, where he was to attend a gala and fundraiser marking the one-year anniversary of his inauguration.
President’s son’s Donald Jr. and Eric were scheduled to take his place at the event.
Told @POTUS will not go to Mar-a-Lago anniversary party — but that Don Jr. and/or Eric are likely to attend in his stead.
— Eliana Johnson (@elianayjohnson) January 20, 2018
Is President Trump getting ready for retribution on behalf of America’s citizens?
Via BizPAC
