Donald Trump Blames Devastating Election Losses on Record-Breaking Government Shutdown: “A Big Negative Factor” for Republicans
- US President Donald Trump attributes a string of electoral defeats to the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 36th day
- Democrats sweep to victory in key elections, including a mayoral race in New York City and gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia
- Trump’s own party is divided on how to end the shutdown, with some calling for compromise and others urging a “nuclear option” to bypass Democratic opposition
In a dramatic about-face, Donald Trump has pointed the finger at the record-breaking US government shutdown for a series of crushing election losses that have left his Republican Party reeling. Speaking at a breakfast meeting with senators on Wednesday, the US President lamented the political gridlock that has plagued Washington DC for 36 days, saying it was “a big negative factor” for his party’s candidates.
The devastating election results, which come just one year into Trump’s presidency, have sent shockwaves through the political establishment. In a stinging rebuke to Trump, left-wing reformer Zohran Mamdani claimed a resounding victory in New York City’s mayoral election, while Democrats swept to victory in gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia.
Trump, however, was quick to deflect responsibility, claiming that the shutdown was to blame for his party’s poor performance. “If you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big negative factor for the Republicans,” he told senators. The President also mused that one of the reasons his party’s candidates had performed poorly was because “I wasn’t on the ballot.”
The election losses are just the latest blow to Trump’s presidency, which has been mired in controversy and gridlock since his inauguration. The government shutdown, which has seen federal workers go unpaid and essential services paused, has sparked widespread outrage and frustration across the country.
Despite the growing crisis, Trump has shown no signs of backing down, repeatedly blaming Democrats for the stalemate and refusing to compromise on his demands for a border wall. The standoff has sparked fears of a prolonged shutdown, with Republicans and Democrats dug in on their respective positions.
In the midst of the chaos, Trump’s Vice-President, JD Vance, took to social media to urge calm, saying Republicans would be “idiotic to overreact” to the election results. But for many, the damage is already done, with the shutdown and Trump’s handling of it seen as a major factor in the party’s electoral defeats.