President Donald Trump initially believed that a government shutdown would deliver a swift and decisive political win for Republicans. However, as the impasse stretches into a likely second week, that calculation is beginning to look increasingly uncertain.
The first phase of this high-profile funding battle has not only emboldened Democratic lawmakers but also left voters divided over who is responsible for the deadlock. Quiet concerns are growing within Trump’s circle that the politics surrounding the shutdown may be more complex than they originally anticipated.
Despite predictions from some Republicans that Democrats would quickly fold under pressure, the opposition has remained largely unified in their demands. Early polling suggests that Americans are equally likely to blame both Trump and Congressional Democrats for the deadlock.
Meanwhile, as the White House prepares for a wave of mass layoffs in an attempt to ramp up pressure, it’s unclear how this strategy will resonate with the broader public.
“I’m supposed to say this is killing the Democrats,” one Trump adviser remarked. “But honestly, I don’t think it helps either side.”
The political dynamics of the shutdown have caught operatives on both sides by surprise, defying the conventional wisdom that the party responsible for triggering a shutdown usually bears the brunt of the blame. So far, the stalemate has sparked relatively little outrage, with voters seeming to take a wait-and-see approach. Financial markets, too, appear largely indifferent to the ongoing chaos in Washington.
Earlier in the week, White House officials highlighted polling that showed Democrats would bear most of the responsibility for initiating the shutdown—the first extended one since 2018. However, a new poll by The Washington Post diluted that narrative, finding that 47% of respondents held Trump and the GOP accountable, while only 30% blamed the Democrats.
“This is essentially a congressional problem,” said Whit Ayres, a GOP pollster. “We’ve seen so many shutdowns over the years that this feels like just another typical Washington drama.”
With the shutdown now a fixture of American political life, both parties face the challenge of navigating a fight that may ultimately have little immediate political fallout, as voters grow increasingly accustomed to Washington’s gridlock.
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