Senate Dem: History will judge Trump harshly for ‘inept’ shutdown negotiations

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Sunday blasted President Trump for his “inept negotiation” to bring an end to the ongoing partial government shutdown.

“I think history will show that Donald Trump, the supposed great dealmaker … that business schools and management consultants will look back for years and say, this was the most inept negotiation,” Warner said on CNN’s “State of the Union.

“He boxed himself in a corner,” Warner continued. “He didn’t empower his negotiators, like the vice president or [Sens.] Lindsey Graham [R-S.C.] or Mitch McConnell [R-Ky.]. He’s not allowed any win-win circumstance.”

“I think history will show that Donald Trump, the supposed great deal maker…business schools and management consultants will look back for years and say this was the most inept negotiation. He boxed himself in a corner,” Democratic Sen. @MarkWarner says of the shutdown. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/bNBW0W3U2W

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) January 13, 2019

{mosads}Roughly 25 percent of the federal government has been shuttered for more than three weeks amid a standoff between Trump and congressional Democrats. The president has demanded more than $5 billion to fund his desired wall along the southern border, something Democrats have steadfastly opposed.

Negotiations between the two sides broke down last week, with few signs that a breakthrough is imminent.

Warner, the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, lamented the effect the shutdown has had on hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have been furloughed or forced to work without pay.

He argued the president should agree to reopen the government while lawmakers hash out an agreement on border security, echoing the stance held by most Democrats.