Donald Trump is already shirking responsibility for the government shutdown

An old saying suggests that there are only two constants in life—death and taxes—but it seems we can add another to that list: Donald Trump’s refusal to take responsibility for anything.

There are, of course, exceptions. Trump is always eager to claim credit for anything positive, even things he had no involvement in. However, when it comes to unpopular decisions, he’s quick to avoid blame, often with a dramatic retreat. This behavior was on full display in mid-December when the U.S. government was on the verge of a shutdown, and Trump, despite his encouragement of the shutdown, tried to shift the blame elsewhere.

Trump took to Truth Social, his social media platform, to share a self-serving message about the potential shutdown. In the post, he stated, “If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now, under the Biden Administration, not after January 20th, under ‘TRUMP’.” He made it clear that he believed the responsibility lay with President Biden, even though Trump’s own actions had contributed to the impasse.

The shutdown was partly due to Trump’s insistence on adding unnecessary demands to the deal. For example, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson drafted a bipartisan bill that both sides considered sufficient, but Trump vetoed it because it didn’t raise the debt ceiling to give him more spending power. His alternative plan, which would have raised the debt ceiling for only the first part of his presidency, was rejected by Congress. So, Trump’s stance was essentially “my way or the highway.”

In typical Trump fashion, he’s willing to let the government shut down entirely if it means avoiding any responsibility for it. He seems to believe that if the shutdown occurs during President Biden’s term, the blame will fall squarely on Biden. Then, when Trump takes office again in January, he hopes to push through a deal and present himself as the savior.

However, the reality is that a government shutdown would have serious consequences for millions of Americans, even if it doesn’t directly affect Trump. Many government employees could go without paychecks as the holidays approach, and a prolonged shutdown could disrupt various sectors. If the shutdown breaks the record for the longest in history, it will be a dubious distinction for Trump, who already holds that record.

With the deadline for a spending bill looming on December 21, the chances of reaching an agreement are slim. If Trump gets his way, regular Americans could bear the brunt of the shutdown’s consequences.

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