He wants to take the federal government hostage to get money his wall — and he's proud of it.
Trump is threatening to shut down the federal government right before Christmas. And he's actually "proud" to do it.
Trump made the rather astonishing declaration during a heated confrontation in front of reporters with Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi, the incoming speaker of the House, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Challenged by Schumer over his insistence that the government should be shut down unless Congress gives Trump billions of dollars to build his useless border wall, Trump had a complete meltdown.
TRUMP: Yes. If we don't get what we want, one way or the other, whether it's through you, through a military, anything you want to call — I will shut down the government. And I am proud — and I'll tell you what, I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck. Because the people of this country don't want criminals and people that have lots of problems — and drugs — pouring into our country. So I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I'm not going to blame you for it. The last time you shut it down, it didn't work. I will take the mantle of shutting it down. And I'm going to shut it down for border security.
SCHUMER: Well, we believe you shouldn't shut it down.
Despite Trump's claim that shutting down the government to get border wall funding is somehow on behalf of "the "people of this country," most Americans — 57 percent — oppose his position. In fact, 69 percent of Americans don't think the wall should be a priority for the new Congress.
Trump has been politically beaten, is under investigation for possible crimes, and now can't get full funding for his wall, even though his party controls both chambers of Congress. Democratic leaders laid out the facts to him directly to his face, and his response was a humiliating collapse — on camera, no less.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.
