President Donald Trump, again from a weeklong diplomatic journey to Asia, inserted himself into the shutdown combat in Washington in a single day with a name on Senate Republicans to eradicate the filibuster and unilaterally reopen the federal government.
The request to alter the traditional rule, although, was shortly rebuffed by Majority Chief John Thune.
Meaning the stalemate between Republicans and Democrats continues with no apparent finish in sight. If not resolved earlier than Wednesday, it’ll turn out to be the longest shutdown in U.S. historical past.
A new poll from ABC Information/Washington Publish/Ipsos discovered extra Individuals blame Trump and the Republicans in Congress than the Democrats for the shutdown.
It stays to be seen whether or not Trump turns into extra personally concerned in ending the deadlock because the political danger develop, particularly as Individuals critically start to really feel and see the impacts, together with strains at meals banks and aviation delays.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Drive One earlier than departure from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, October 31, 2025.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
On Saturday, the federally funded Supplemental Vitamin Help Program (SNAP) is ready to lapse. Meaning roughly 42 million Individuals who depend on the meals stamp program will probably be susceptible as they’re unable to get advantages.
Saturday additionally marks the beginning of open enrollment for Inexpensive Cart Act recipients, lots of whom are going through a lot increased insurance coverage premiums subsequent 12 months as a result of expiring tax credit.
Democrats are demanding President Trump and Republicans work with them to increase the ACA subsidies. Trump and Republican say they will not negotiate till the federal government is reopened.
Trump on Friday doubled down on that method.
“I am all the time keen to satisfy. All they must do is open up the nation. Allow them to open up the nation and we’ll meet,” Trump stated as he stepped off Air Drive One in Florida, the place he’ll spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago property.
Lawmakers are additionally out of city, with the Home out of session subsequent week and the Senate not set to return till Monday evening.
Trump strikes funds for navy, however not for SNAP
Trump has made a number of strikes to maintain the navy paid throughout the shutdown. He accepted a $130 million donation from a personal donor. Then, the White Home Workplace of Administration and Finances shifted $5.3 billion in funds from different sources to pay navy members on Oct. 31.
Is there a risk that Trump can do the identical for SNAP?
“Nicely, there all the time is,” Trump stated on Friday earlier than instantly pointing the finger at Democrats.
“However all of the Democrats must do is say let’s go. I imply, you already know, they don’t must do something. All they must do is say the federal government is open, and we solely want 5 Democrats. However they’re, you already know, they’ve turn out to be a radical left get together,” the president stated.
Carts filled with groceries wait to be given to folks in want at Curley’s Home Meals Financial institution days earlier than the Supplemental Vitamin Help Program advantages might expire as a result of Federal authorities shutdown, October 30, 2025 in Miami.
Joe Raedle/Getty Photographs
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, in a information convention Friday morning alongside Home Speaker Mike Johnson, insisted the division’s contingency fund can’t legally be used hold SNAP funded throughout a shutdown.
“It’s a contingency fund that may solely stream if the underlying appropriation is authorised. And pay attention, even when it may stream, it does not even cowl half of the month of November. So right here we’re, once more, in two weeks, having the very same dialog,” she stated.
SNAP funding has been the main focus of a number of lawsuits, with Democratic states suing the administration to maintain the funds flowing. One federal choose on Friday briefly ordered the Trump administration to proceed funding advantages, although the administration may enchantment.
Late Friday, Trump posted on his social media platform that authorities attorneys “don’t assume now we have the authorized authority to pay SNAP with sure monies now we have obtainable,” however that “it’ll BE MY HONOR to supply the funding similar to I did with Navy and Regulation Enforcement Pay” if the court docket would “make clear how we are able to legally fund SNAP as quickly as doable.”
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks alongside Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson throughout a information convention on Capitol Hill on October 31, 2025 in Washington.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs
Democrats have taken purpose at Trump, saying he hasn’t performed sufficient to intervene. Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer accused Trump of getting “bowed down” to Chinese language President Xi Jinping in Asia whereas two crises are quickly to unfold at house on meals support and well being care.
“Trump is a vindictive politician and a heartless man,” Schumer stated on the Senate ground on Thursday.
Republicans, however, argue Democrats are those holding the federal government hostage.
“That’s how a baby behaves. That’s not how a accountable governing get together behaves in america of America,” Vice President JD Vance stated on Thursday after main a White Home roundtable on the affect of the shutdown on the aviation business. Vance stated vacation journey for Individuals will probably be a “catastrophe” if the deadlock is not over.
President Trump on Friday accused Democrats of getting “misplaced their minds.”
