Trump and House Republicans Absent as Government Shutdown Drags On

Blue Press Journal – The government shutdown has entered its second week, and the American public is growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in resolving the crisis. While the effects of the shutdown become more apparent, President Donald Trump and most House Republicans are noticeably absent from the negotiations.

Trump, who has touted himself as a great deal maker, is currently in Asia, leaving many to wonder if he has any concerns for the American public. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has opted to keep the lower chamber out of session this week, earning criticism for leading a “do nothing” Republican Congress.

The absence of Trump and House Republicans from the negotiations has drawn growing scrutiny. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) expressed his frustration during a CNBC interview on Monday, “How can I negotiate? The president is in Asia for five days. Johnson is basically keeping… the House of Representatives out until January to stop and protect pedophiles. So who am I negotiating with right now?”

Even some Republicans are criticizing Trump’s lack of engagement. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told CNN’s Manu Raju, “I don’t know that we’ve ever had a shutdown… where the president was not engaged at the end. And so I think that that would certainly help.”

The shutdown has already started to take its toll on the economy, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay. The longer the shutdown continues, the more severe the consequences will be. It is clear that the Republicans have no interest in governing, and their absence from the negotiations is a stark reminder of their priorities.