Trump Blames Democrats for Potential Shutdown, Warns of High Taxes and Tax Bill Delay

President Donald Trump has stated that a potential government shutdown would be the fault of Democrats, emphasizing that the House GOP has already passed a continuing resolution (CR) bill. Trump made these comments during a meeting in the Oval Office, where he also warned that a shutdown could lead to 'very, very high taxes' and might delay the tax bill. He expressed his desire for 'one big beautiful bill' to fund the government until the end of the fiscal year. Trump highlighted that the Republicans had voted nearly unanimously on the CR, with only one dissenting vote from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). He expressed hope that Democrats would support the bill, noting that some Democrats have indicated they might vote in favor of it to prevent a shutdown. The House Freedom Caucus supported the bill, stating it would help President Trump eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within the Executive Branch. The CR, which passed the House with a vote of 217-213, would cut around $13 billion from nondefense funding and increase defense spending by about $6 billion. The bill's passage now depends on the Senate, where Democrats hold significant sway due to the requirement for a 60-vote supermajority.