Administration

Trump: Democrats shut down government to appease ‘far left base’

President Trump early Monday slammed Democrats over the government shutdown, accusing the party of closing the federal government to appease “their far left base.”

“Democrats have shut down our government in the interests of their far left base,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “They don’t want to do it but are powerless!”

The president also blasted Democrats over immigration, saying lawmakers are withholding services for American citizens to obtain services “for non-citizens.”

{mosads}“The Democrats are turning down services and security for citizens in favor of services and security for non-citizens. Not good!” Trump said. 

The tweets come as the government shutdown stretches into its third day, with lawmakers struggling to reach a deal to fund the government and keep its lights on.

Democrats have been pushing in funding talks for a solution for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which shields immigrants brought to the U.S. unlawfully as children from deportation. Trump said last year he would wind down the program, but gave lawmakers a window of time to act.

The government shutdown began Saturday at midnight after the Senate failed to pass a short-term funding bill.

Both parties have cast blame on the other for the government closure, which now heads into the workweek after the Senate failed to reach a deal on Sunday evening to reopen the government.