US President Donald Trump has blamed Democrats for the ongoing partial government shutdown, insisting Republicans are not responsible as negotiations over Department of Homeland Security funding remain deadlocked.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described the situation as a “Democrat shutdown,” adding it has “nothing to do with Republicans,” while urging opposition lawmakers to return to negotiations.
During the exchange Trump highlighted what he described as strong economic performance under his leadership, pointing to inflation and fuel costs. “Great financial numbers, you saw low inflation, very low inflation. Prices are down. Way down,” he said, adding that gasoline prices were under two dollars a gallon in many areas, although national averages remain higher. He credited energy policy for broader price relief, saying, “We inherited a mess, and we’ve brought our country back.”
Trump also linked the shutdown dispute to broader political tensions around crime and election law. He claimed Democrats were frustrated by falling crime statistics, stating, “This is a Democrat shutdown… They’re upset that the crime numbers are so good.” The president further criticised Democratic opposition to stricter voting rules, saying, “They don’t want voter ID because they want to cheat in elections,” while promoting measures requiring proof of citizenship for federal voting.
Democrats have pushed for stronger oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement following recent fatal incidents involving federal agents. Despite the standoff, Trump said he remains open to talks to end the shutdown but stressed the need to “protect our law enforcement” and praised immigration officers for removing criminals from the country.
The president also confirmed he intends to proceed with delivering his State of the Union address next week, regardless of whether the shutdown is resolved.
🚨 IT’S OFFICIAL: President Trump confirms he WILL give his State of the Union next week even IF Democrats continue the government shutdown
In front of the ENTIRE COUNTRY Trump can nail Democrats on opposing voter ID, supporting voter fraud and shutting down DHS!
DO IT, 47 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HcoxiYLuGM
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 17, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/live/7Oy1q6zGcQs?si=JBwYF2-JbSrdSC3x
dialogue works/ prof. marandi
So what was DOGE really doing Donnie?
(Hint: letting ultra rich tech lords hoover up government data, which is very helpful to support the Ai powered ICE crackdown)
It wasn’t finding savings from its efficiencies was it. Or else there would be no shutdown.
It’s always the other teams fault in the 2 party illusion.
Might as well start a big war, the US is so flush with dosh!
Seems as though Trump is always being interviewed on Air Force One…pumping out a massive ‘carbon footprint’ and costing tens of thousands of dollars to operate per hour!
The man is self-delusional….and you won’t see his heavily-armoured car ‘The Beast’ driving anywhere near the tent squatters in major cities.
He is delusional, and the J3wi$h aides in his Cabinet are controlling him, (drugged???) he and his ilk will continue to kowtow to Nutanyalu (Mielekowski) and ‘Greater Israel’ until the U.S. is completely bankrupted!
The Yanks did NOT elect Jared Kushner, or anyone else in the Zionist Cabinet that are ruining the country!!!
U.S. RED LINES/IRAN RESISTS Lt Col Daniel Davis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeLlzhrgYA4
Isn’t it great
We could be on the periphery of what could quickly conflagrate into a greater regional war
And Trump sends two Jewish New York Gaza Real Estate magnates to determine the outcome
Appearing to attempt to dodge the inevitable of that which has already been decided
Would Russia view the use of nukes on its doorstep as an existential threat?
Will the prophecy of Ezekiel’s war come to fruition?