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President Trump has likened Democrats to kamikaze pilots amid the ongoing government shutdown, which has now entered its 36th day, making it the longest in U.S. history. The inflammatory remarks came during a breakfast meeting with Republican senators at the White House on Wednesday.
“I think they’re kamikaze pilots,” Trump told the senators, referencing his recent trip to Japan. “I just got back from Japan and talked about the kamikaze pilots. I think these guys are kamikaze. They’ll take down the country if they have to.”
The president expressed frustration that Democrats aren’t shouldering enough blame for their role in the standoff. “It is Democrat-created, but I don’t think they’re getting really the blame that they should,” Trump said, adding that reopening the government must happen soon.
The partial shutdown began on October 1 when funding expired due to an impasse between Senate Republicans and Democrats over a short-term funding bill that would have kept the government operational through November 21. At the heart of the dispute are healthcare provisions in the potential funding measure.
Republicans claim Democrats are pushing to provide healthcare for undocumented immigrants, pointing to a provision that would repeal part of Trump’s earlier “big, beautiful bill” that reduced Medicaid eligibility for non-U.S. citizens. Democrats counter that their goal is to permanently extend certain Affordable Care Act subsidies scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.
The political fallout from the shutdown is already apparent. Trump acknowledged that the crisis likely contributed to Republican losses in Tuesday’s elections, including gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey.
“Exactly one year ago we had that big, beautiful victory,” Trump said, referring to his own election victory. “I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor. Negative for the Republicans, and that was a big factor.”
The stalemate intensified Tuesday when Senate Democrats refused to support Republicans’ stopgap funding bill to reopen the government. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) remained adamant that his party would not back any measure that fails to include extensions for ACA subsidies.
“The only plan Republicans have for healthcare seems to be to eliminate it, and then to tell working people to go figure it out on their own,” Schumer said on Tuesday. “That’s not a healthcare plan. That’s cruel.”
The prolonged shutdown has begun affecting numerous government services and federal workers, with approximately 800,000 federal employees either furloughed or working without pay. Essential services continue to operate, but many government agencies have scaled back operations significantly.
Economic analysts warn that the shutdown’s impact could spread beyond government employees to affect broader economic growth if it persists much longer. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that each week of the shutdown reduces quarterly GDP growth by approximately 0.1 percentage points.
Political observers note that as the shutdown drags on, both sides are digging in deeper, making compromise increasingly difficult. Republicans continue to blame Democrats for refusing to negotiate, while Democrats argue they’re standing firm to protect healthcare access for millions of Americans.
As the shutdown approaches the 40-day mark, pressure is mounting on congressional leaders to find a resolution. Some moderate members from both parties have begun floating compromise proposals, though leadership in both chambers remains publicly committed to their respective positions.
The president’s kamikaze comparison marks an escalation in rhetoric that political analysts suggest could further complicate efforts to reach a compromise solution in the increasingly bitter partisan standoff.
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11 Comments
While I understand the president’s frustration, likening Democrats to ‘kamikaze pilots’ who would ‘take down the country’ is an extreme and unhelpful characterization. The American people deserve leaders who can work together to find solutions, not engage in inflammatory rhetoric.
Absolutely. The American people expect their elected representatives to put aside partisan differences and govern responsibly, even in the face of difficult challenges.
This government shutdown is already the longest in history, and the president’s combative rhetoric is only making the situation more divisive. Both parties need to engage in good-faith negotiations to find a compromise and reopen the government.
The ongoing government shutdown is deeply concerning, and both parties need to set aside political posturing to find a resolution. Resorting to inflammatory language like ‘kamikaze pilots’ is unlikely to move the negotiations forward constructively.
I agree, the focus should be on pragmatic problem-solving, not escalating the rhetoric. The American people deserve better from their elected representatives.
This shutdown has now become the longest in US history, which is concerning. Both sides need to find common ground and work together to reopen the government, rather than trading inflammatory accusations.
Absolutely. The American people deserve a functioning government that can address the critical issues facing the country. Partisan grandstanding will only prolong the pain.
This government shutdown is already the longest in US history, and the American people are the ones suffering. Both parties need to come together in good faith to find a compromise and end this impasse, rather than trading accusations.
While I understand the president’s frustration with the impasse, his comments about Democrats being ‘kamikaze pilots’ who would ‘take down the country’ seem hyperbolic and unhelpful. This is a complex issue that requires nuanced solutions, not heated rhetoric.
Trump’s comments seem rather inflammatory and divisive. While political disagreements can be heated, likening Democrats to ‘kamikaze pilots’ who would ‘take down the country’ is an extreme characterization that does little to resolve the ongoing government shutdown impasse.
I agree, the rhetoric is unnecessarily antagonistic and unlikely to foster productive dialogue between the two parties. A more measured, problem-solving approach would be more constructive at this stage.