The government shutdown is spiraling into political disaster for Republicans, and Donald Trump’s influence is at the center of it. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has declared “there’s nothing to negotiate” on expiring Obamacare subsidies — a stance that leaves 20 million Americans at risk of skyrocketing health care costs. Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson has decided to send the House of Representatives home for the week, effectively giving Republicans a paid holiday while federal workers face furloughs and Americans brace for the fallout.
This strategy may play well to Trump’s base, but it’s political suicide in the broader electorate. Democrats now have a simple winning message: Republicans are blocking health care protections while taking time off during a shutdown. With polling already showing blame landing squarely on the GOP, this shutdown isn’t just unsustainable — it’s handing Democrats a powerful narrative heading into the midterms.
